On June 22, 135 students will descend upon the campus of Savannah Country Day School to participate in Horizons, a six-week summer enrichment program for public school students. The program, which will welcome rising Kindergarteners through seventh graders from nine local public schools, is an academic, cultural and recreational enrichment program that enables students from diverse, low-income populations to realize their full potential. "The Horizons Student Enrichment Program not only impacts the student, but the entire family, which in turn impacts the community," said Gail MacPherson, executive director of Horizons Savannah. "By encouraging and making the learning process a fun experience for the child, we see that the child is more eager to learn, thus creating a lower dropout rate for students in our community and county."
Academics covered during the summer program include reading, writing and mathematics, while recreational activities include swimming, basketball and tennis, among others. Social skills are honed throughout the program, with specific "life lessons" highlighted in the classroom. In addition, students take frequent field trips designed to give them exposure to new experiences.
Horizons strives to develop the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for oneself and others. A crucial aspect of the program is the inclusion of students’ families in the six-week session.
"By including the students’ families in Horizons activities, we have seen the success rate rise with each child that comes through our program," said MacPherson. "By the end of the summer, their social skills have reached a whole new dimension."
Horizons Savannah is affiliated with Horizons National, which serves more than 1,500 students in 16 cities around the country, and is the second largest program in the nation. The program is funded by Savannah-area individuals, corporations and foundations. The summer session on the campus of Savannah Country Day School begins June 22 and commences on July 31. For more information, please contact Executive Director Gail MacPherson at 912-344-0791 or visit www.horizonssavannah.com.