June 1, 2026
Summertime is Learning Time!
School isn’t the only place for our students to gain knowledge and educational experiences that add value to their overall learning. I encourage you, as parents of our students, to be intentional about continuing the learning process over the summer.
In the article “Summer Vacation: A much-needed break or a break in learning progress?,” Ruth A. Peters, Ph.D, cites several facts in regard to students and summer vacation; they are:
All students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.
On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills.
Studies show that out-of-school time is a dangerous time for unsupervised children and youth.
Providing structured activities such as visiting libraries, zoos and museums, enrolling in Hudsonville Community Education activities, attending summer camps, obtaining a part-time job such as babysitting and/or participating in a reading program can help combat learning losses and keep our students safe.
Be the person who models that behavior as well. Think about putting down the screens and picking up the books. Pick a book you and your child can read together, and consider how you can talk together about themes, characters, and the emotions we carry as we read. Patmos Library also has a wonderful summer program for your child to follow.
Let’s get our kids involved, keep them active, and allow them to keep learning during the summer months
-Matt Baer
Principal, Riley Street Middle School
