As the school year comes to a close, it’s essential for K-12 students to prepare for the upcoming summer break. While the summer provides a well-deserved break from academics, it is also an opportunity for students to continue their personal growth, explore new interests, and maintain a sense of routine. Here are some valuable tips to help students make the most of their summer:

1. Set Goals: Encourage students to set personal goals for the summer, whether it’s reading a certain number of books, learning a new skill, or pursuing a hobby. Setting goals provides a sense of direction and motivation.
2. Read, Read, Read: Summer is an excellent time for students to indulge in reading for pleasure. Encourage them to create a reading list or join a local library’s summer reading program to keep their minds active and engaged.
3. Pursue Enrichment Activities: Look for local summer programs or camps that align with your child’s interests. These activities can range from art and sports to science and technology, providing opportunities for students to explore new passions.
4. Stay Active: Encourage physical activity and outdoor play. Engage in family outings, bike rides, or walks in the park. Physical exercise not only promotes good health but also enhances focus and productivity.
5. Volunteer and Give Back: Engaging in community service activities can teach empathy, responsibility, and the value of giving back. Students can volunteer at local organizations or participate in neighborhood clean-up initiatives.
6. Foster Creativity: Encourage students to engage in creative pursuits such as writing, drawing, or crafting. These activities stimulate imagination and critical thinking skills.
7. Maintain a Routine: While summer break allows for a more relaxed schedule, it’s important to maintain a routine. Set regular sleep and wake-up times, allocate time for academic enrichment, and balance it with leisure activities.
8. Spend Quality Time with Family: Summer provides an excellent opportunity for students to bond with family members. Plan family outings, game nights, or even simple moments of conversation to create lasting memories.
9. Reflect and Set New Academic Goals: Towards the end of summer, encourage students to reflect on their achievements and challenges from the previous academic year. Help them set new goals for the upcoming school year, fostering a sense of excitement and motivation.
10. Embrace Rest and Rejuvenation: Finally, remind students that summer break is a time for rest and rejuvenation. Encourage them to relax, recharge, and take care of their well-being.

By incorporating these tips into their summer routines, K-12 students can make the most of their break while maintaining an active and balanced lifestyle. Summer should be a time of growth, exploration, and fun, preparing them for the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the next academic year.

Summer Reading At Home offers a fantastic opportunity for individuals of all ages to dive into the world of books, explore new genres, and embark on exciting literary adventures. Whether you’re a child, teen, or adult, this program encourages reading for pleasure and personal enrichment during the summer months.

For children, Summer Reading At Home fosters a love for reading and helps maintain and improve their literacy skills while school is out. By providing a variety of age-appropriate reading materials, from picture books to chapter books, children can explore different stories, characters, and themes. Parents can engage in read-aloud sessions, encouraging discussions and imaginative thinking. This program sets the foundation for a lifelong love of reading.

Teenagers can also benefit greatly from Summer Reading At Home. It offers an opportunity for them to discover new authors, delve into diverse genres, and expand their reading horizons. Whether it’s fantasy, mystery, romance, or science fiction, there is a book to captivate every teen’s interest. Summer reading can be a gateway to self-discovery, personal growth, and critical thinking.

For adults, Summer Reading At Home provides a much-needed escape from the everyday routines and offers a chance to relax and unwind with a good book. Whether you prefer fiction, non-fiction, biographies, or self-help books, there is something for everyone. Reading can be a form of self-care, allowing adults to explore different perspectives, gain knowledge, and find inspiration.

Summer Reading At Home can be a family affair, where everyone in the household participates and shares their reading experiences. It promotes bonding, communication, and the joy of shared stories.

Remember, Summer Reading At Home is not just about finishing a certain number of books; it’s about fostering a lifelong love for reading and the joy of getting lost in the pages of a great story. So grab a book, find a cozy spot, and embark on a summer reading adventure from the comfort of your home. Happy reading!

Summer Reading Activities

The Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center has released its 2021 Summer Reading Program information. The program is open to readers of all ages and prizes will be given to those who participate. The program runs from June 1 through August 15. Please contact the public library for more information or with questions.

Cumberland County Public Library shares with children information about the Summer Reading Program for 2022.

Observed the world over on April 25th, World Penguin Day recognizes one of the unique birds on the planet.  There are 18 species of penguins, and all their natural habitats are in the Southern hemisphere.

Did you know the Emperor Penguin is the biggest of the 18 penguin species and largest of all birds? There are estimated to be (2017) approximately 595,000 adult Emperors today, and from birth, they spend their entire life around the Antarctic ice. These wondrous critters also incubate their eggs like other birds; only they can do so in temperatures nearing -50 degrees Celsius – that’s cold!

Emperor Penguins are the tallest… about 4 feet tall. The smallest, Little Blue, stands about 16 inches. And Penguins are excellent swimmers with the fastest penguin swimmer getting up to about 22 mph.

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit. ‘the Day of the Festival of Patrick’), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385 – c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),^[6] the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland,^[5] and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.^[7] Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilís, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.^[8] Christians who belong to liturgical denominations also attend church services^[7][9] and historically the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption.^{[7][8][10][11]}

Saint Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland,^[12] Northern Ireland,^[13] the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (for provincial government employees), and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated in the United Kingdom,^[14] Canada, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, especially amongst Irish diaspora. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.^[15] Modern celebrations have been greatly influenced by those of the Irish diaspora, particularly those that developed in North America. However, there has been criticism of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations for having become too commercialised and for fostering negative stereotypes of the Irish people.^[16]

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Source: Wikipedia

Collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity is what makes International Women’s Day impactful. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” So make International Women’s Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

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Source: InternationalWomensDay.com

Strange that the invention of breakfast cereal was founded on the fact that the American diet of the mid 1800’s was a poor one packed with protein, booze and caffeine. Or maybe it’s not so strange. After all, cereal was considered a remedy – a sort of 19th-century health or wonder food for the ailing masses. So if you’re raising a milk-sopped spoonful of oats or bran or wheat today, give a little nod to 
National Cereal Day, which honors this classic morning meal and midnight snack on March 7.​

The 1st United States Congress, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, met from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1791, during the first two years of George Washington‘s presidency, first at Federal Hall in New York City and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. With the initial meeting of the First Congress, the United States federal government officially began operations under the new (and current) frame of government established by the 1787 Constitution. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the provisions of Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution. Both chambers had a Pro-Administration majority. Twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution were passed by this Congress and sent to the states for ratification; the ten ratified as additions to the Constitution on December 15, 1791, are collectively known as the Bill of Rights, with an additional amendment ratified more than two centuries later to become the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution.

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Source: Wikipedia

Who was Francis Scott Key?

Francis Scott Key penned his poem during a naval attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore, on the Chesapeake Bay, by British ships during the war of 1812.

The Maryland-born attorney had been helping to negotiate the release of an American civilian who was captured in an earlier battle. As a condition of the release, the British ordered the Americans not to return to shore during the attack on Baltimore, according to History.com.

As a result, Key watched the battle unfold in the pouring rain — and eventually, he was able to determine that the Fort’s storm flag had survived the barrage and that by dawn, the larger revile flag was proudly raised.

“He had witnessed Britain’s 25-hour bombardment of the Fort, and for Key, the raising of the American flag was a triumphant symbol of bravery and perseverance,” the National Parks Service writes.

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Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

March 2nd

Get involved! Dr. Seuss’s Birthday is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on March 2 — Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too!

Incorporate our printable guides and activities to celebrate reading with young people.

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Source: SeussVille