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A Stellar Summer for Horizons at Saint David's

The news from Horizons at Saint David's couldn't be better. This past summer, 120 boys in rising Grades One through Nine were back on campus, in-person, to participate in the six-week summer program designed to enrich boys' learning and prevent academic summer slide. For the vast majority of these boys, it was their first time returning full time to a classroom in more than 16 months, requiring a special focus on academics, fitness, social skills and classroom routines. 

Horizons staff were more than ready. Math and reading specialists designed personalized education plans for the boys, resulting in a 66 percent growth in math and a 71 percent growth in reading by the program's end. Increased opportunities for daily physical activity and sports were woven into the sessions to address the problem of childhood obesity resulting from the pandemic. Lacrosse was introduced for the first time through a partnership with CityLax.

In collaboration with Ramapo for Children, Horizons provided professional development in social-emotional learning to all staff, and all grades attended weekly social-emotional classes. All of the students reported feeling connected to the Horizons staff as people who cared about their well-being.

There's more good news, too. The Horizons at Saint David's program has been expanded to run throughout the year, offering optional six-week fall and spring sessions.

This type of success is only possible when you have a program that is run and staffed by caring, consummate professionals; in this case, everyone from Executive Director Hope Lippens, Program Director Lindsay Zaremba, and Athletics Director/Volunteer Supervisor Nick Imbelli, to the advisory board members, teachers and Saint David's alumni volunteers.

Horizons at Saint David's began in 2012 with 17 rising first graders, as part of Saint David's School's 60th anniversary initiative to give back to society in a meaningful, mission-focused way by providing educational opportunities for elementary school children; in this case, boys from partner schools in East Harlem. Ten years later, it is stronger than ever. 



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