Get ready to read and have fun

Peninsula Public Library program seeks to combat the ‘summer slide’

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Registration is underway for Peninsula Public Library’s annual summer reading program that is designed to keep students on track during July and August, engaging them in fun activities so their reading skills stay sharp while they are off from school.

This year’s program “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!” begins July 5. It will merge fitness and sports with learning, and is being offered to children 5 to 14. Registration began on June 23 and will be open until early August.

“We encourage reading for pleasure over the summer to avoid the ‘summer slide’,” said Carolynn Matulewicz, the library’s director. “We have many fun programs related to the theme.”

Every summer, low-income youth lose two to three months in reading while their higher-income peers make slight gains. Most youth lose about two months of math skills in the summer, according to the National Summer Learning Association.

The library has partnered with Long Island Cares’ Henry Chapin Food Bank that will provide a breakfast food truck on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in July and August from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

“The program coming to the library is summer food service, in which any child under the age of 18 can come and receive a free, fresh, ready to eat breakfast,” said Jessica Rosati, the chief program officer at the food bank.

Providing kids with breakfast, typically called the most important meal of the day, is so they will be energized for the day’s activities. The breakfast isn’t limited to children participating in the program.

Registered students will take part in a number of events, from Zumba and yoga to learning about the science of sports and other craft activities. On July 20, the program will be hosting a Harry Potter party for kids 8 and up, where everyone can come dressed as one of the movie’s characters.

Four sports-related movies will be shown in July and August. The movie screenings are open to the public. The program will be capped off with a summer reading party on Aug. 24 at 4:30 p.m., with prizes and raffles.

The library also teamed up wit Lawrence Elementary School to help focus more on reading. “Children ages 3 to 5 really like activity and they need to be moving,” said Lawrence Elementary School Principal Rina Beach, “so mixing activity and reading is good for them.”

To sign up, stop by the Peninsula Public Library at 280 Central Ave. in Lawrence.