What We Did On Our Summer Vacation

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on August 18, 2021

We're halfway through August, which means September is just around the corner. As students and teachers across Anne Arundel County prepare to return to the classroom this year--some for the first time in nearly two years!--we want to pause and look back on our Summer 2021 initiatives.

Thanks to the generosity of our many donors and the unwavering support of many volunteers, STAIR-Annapolis was able to implement a full three months of programming that boosted "summer brain gain," kept students engaged in reading adventures, increased our outreach, and offered a helping hand to our valued community partners.

It was a great summer, but we're looking forward to our return to in-person programming for the 2021-2022 school year! Details are coming soon as we await guidance from our partners at Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Be sure to check back often and keep an eye on our calendar for the latest news.

We mailed more than 1,000 books to students in June, July, and August. All 120 second graders enrolled in this year's STAIR At Home program received monthly packages filled with age-appropriate, diverse books throughout the summer.

We hosted four successful STAIR Book Fairs, giving away dozens of free books to young readers throughout Annapolis and in South Anne Arundel County.

We partnered with community organizations like Reading Camp Maryland and Reading Camp South County to gift books to students participating in their summer programming.

With the help of our wonderful volunteers, we made sure Little Free Libraries in the neighborhoods where STAIR students live were stocked with books for readers of all ages. In all, we visited a dozen Little Free Libraries in Annapolis, South County, Crofton, and Severn.

We participated in several community events, including a regular weekly booth at the SoCo Farmer's Market at Deale Library, a stop at the Shady Side 4th of July Parade, and a visit to National Night Out, where we had a great conversation with Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. STAIR-Annapolis Program Manager Julieta Slattery made sure every young reader who stopped by our table got to choose a book to take home!