Christine Rivard

Rivard's "Summer Goals/Summer Enrichment" program will help reduce the gap in learning that many students experience during summer vacation. This pilot program, which will initially include nearly 40 fourth and fifth graders, provides an outline that helps students continue learning after the regular school year ends. Through a series of monthly fieldtrips, regular e-mails and the development of a website, Rivard hopes to mitigate the summer setback phenomenon, which can negatively affect a student's ability to retain lessons learned in the classroom. In addition to providing hands-on learning opportunities that educate children beyond the walls of the classroom, ongoing contact will provide a stronger bond between teachers and students. Bonding between parents and teachers will be encouraged as well. It is a well-known fact that students who receive consistent instruction perform better. Test scores are expected to improve during the school year because the summer learning slide will be curbed. Rivard is a resident of Pascoag.