Have you ever heard of the summer slide? The summer slide refers to the phenomenon of the learning loss that takes place during the summer months. Just what does the research say?

• Kids in grades 3 to 5 lose about 20% of their school year gains in reading and 27% of their gains in math over the summer months.
  
• Students lose about a month’s worth of learning on average over the summer.
  
• In the summer between 5th and 6th grades, 84% of students experience summer slide in math.

What can parents do to help prevent learning loss over the summer? This newsletter includes some ideas and resources for parents, along with many community camps, summer literacy opportunities, summer nutrition sites with free books, and more!

Research shows that reading at least 5 books over the summer can help students maintain important literacy skills. The Dalton/Whitfield Public Library has a summer reading challenge to encourage and incentivize reading this summer! Let your children pick out books that they will enjoy or pick out some books to read together as a family at the local library.

The Dalton/Whitfield Public Library is hosting a Reading Challenge with prizes and gift card raffle opportunities! Schedule a trip to the library in June and July to let your children check out books, and get something from the treasure chest! Children who complete 12 hours of reading, along with adults who complete 16 hours of reading before July 19th will be entered to win. For more information, visit the library website linked HERE.

Dalton Public Schools will be handing out free books at 6 community sites this summer! Bring your children to pick out books for summer reading to one of these sites.

Whitfield County Schools along with Dalton State College and United Way volunteers will be handing out books at a few of the WCS summer nutrition sites this summer! See a list of the sites with times and days of the weeks WCS staff, United Way Volunteers, or Dalton State Education students will be there to give away books.

WCS Staff & Volunteers will be at these sites from 11:00AM-12:00PM:

• Pleasant Grove Elementary-Mondays
• Beaverdale Elementary School-Tuesdays
• Cohutta Elementary School-Wednesdays
• Westside Middle School-Thursdays
• Cedar Ridge Elementary-Mondays
• Eastside Elementary School-Mondays (11:00-1:30)

Dalton State College Students-Summer Power Lunches on Fridays:

• Bay Drive at 12:00
• Baxter Drive at 12:00
• Midge Way at 12:30

Other Power Lunch sites where books will be given away on Thursdays by United Way Volunteers:

• Stinnett Trailer Park (12:00)
• New Hope Elementary School (11:00)
• Tunnell Hill Elementary School (11:30)
• Salem Baptist Church (11:00)
• Dawnville Meadows Apartments (12:00)
• Varnell Pavillion (11:00)
• Somma Cir. (12:30)
• Dawnville Park (11:30)
• Dug Gap Elementary (11:00)
• Bear Den Court (12:00)

Dalton/Whitfield Family Connection has the FINAL 2024 Summer Camp List available. Click HERE to see the updated list. Most of the camps beginning the first week of June are no longer accepting students. However, there are many Sports Based camps with available spots.

Dalton Public Schools is excited to announce the launch of its Summer Nutrition Sites 2024! This program provides free lunch to children 18 years old and younger throughout the summer vacation period.

Program Details:

• Start Date: June 3rd
• End Date: July 24th
• Closed Dates: July 4th and 5th (Independence Day Observance)
• Eligibility: Children 18 years old and younger
• Cost: Free (No registration or fees required)

Important Note: All food provided must be consumed on-site.

Dalton Public Schools encourages families to take advantage of this initiative to ensure that children have access to healthy meals during the summer break. Join us in making this summer healthy and nutritious for all children in our community!

The Summer Nutrition Program will operate at various sites across Dalton, providing convenient access to free lunch for children. Click HERE to view sites.

Looking for ways to keep your students healthy and engaged this summer? Whitfield County Schools has you covered!

Beginning June 3, children of all ages can receive free meals at any Whitfield County School Nutrition Summer Feeding site. WCS is also opening six school libraries this summer! Students can stop by any Summer Library site for a meal and a free book.

For a full list of the 2024 Summer Feeding and Summer Library sites, visit www.wcsga.net/summer2024.

Looking for some FREE family friendly events this summer?! Check out the "Off the Rails Summer Concert Series" hosted at Burr Performing Arts Park. Find the line up of artists below.