Boost Student Success with Advantage Lancaster
Prevent the Summer Slide
Let’s face it. The “Summer Slide” isn’t just a silly concern. It’s a real issue that can hold students back from success, both in school and afterwards.
The dreaded Summer Slide describes the the ground students lose when they don’t attend school or study for the summer months. Long-earned understanding slips, and study habits fall by the wayside. When students finally return to school in the fall, many have lost important building-blocks. Teachers often spend over a month of the new school year reviewing material from the previous year.
Founded in 2002, Advantage Lancaster was founded to provide year-round learning to middle schoolers and mentor them as they prepare for life after grade school. Students in the program build positive habits in an environment that fosters curiosity and courage. From trips to museums to internships at local businesses, students spend their summers expanding their knowledge and experiences.
F&M Summer Session
The Summer Semester at Franklin & Marshall College emphasizes the significance of higher education by providing students with early exposure to a highly selective Liberal Arts College. This program offers a unique opportunity for young learners to immerse themselves in an intellectually stimulating environment, fostering academic growth and a passion for lifelong learning. Participants engage in a diverse range of courses and activities designed to challenge their thinking, enhance their skills, and prepare them for future academic endeavors.
In addition to traditional coursework, the Summer Semester includes a variety of extracurricular activities that promote personal growth and community engagement. This program not only equips students with academic knowledge but also instills in them the values of curiosity, critical thinking, and social responsibility. The program is designed to be more than just a learning experience; it is meant to be a transformative journey to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of higher education and beyond while preventing the potential of "Summer Slide".
Our Summer Mentor Staff
Hi my name is Cristy Glick. I am a daughter of Christ, a wife and a mother of four incredible kids. This is my second year with Advantage Lancaster. During the school year I teach 11th and 12th grade communication arts at McCaskey East. I have been with SDOL for four years now. I feel so much gratitude to be able to pour into our students lives in positive ways during the school year and summer months. My favorite part of this incredible journey and mentorship is watch the students growth and see young boys and girls grow into mature and amazing young men and women.
My name is Ms. Sumrall and this is my second year teaching middle school English with Advantage Lancaster. During the school year I teach 7th grade English at Reynolds Middle School as well as serve as the head coach of the Reynolds Boys Basketball team. My favorite thing about being a mentor is being apart of the process of helping kids grow into the best versions of themselves. I am a crier and I LOVE when I get to cry happy tears from seeing my kiddos growing out of their comfort zones and becoming amazing young men and women. I am most looking forward to enjoying new experiences with our students this summer and watching their eyes open up to the world around them. It is a blessing to be in this position.
My goal for AL this summer is to observe and experience the way that mentoring and nourishment transform students into confident, well-spoken individuals.
My name is Ms. Perales. I have been a part of the AL family for 10 years! I have been apart of AL as a student for 6 years and helped out as a staff member for 4 years. This summer, I am teaching SEL to middle school students. I take pride in being a positive mentor for both the high school and middle school students. During the summer, I look forward to creating a bond with each student and guiding them to see their full potential.
Hi my name is Mrs. Sen, I have been with Advantage Lancaster for over 12 years. I am currently a high school mathematics teacher at J.p. McCaskey High School, in AL I teach middle school math. I love being a mentor because I am connecting with our youth and trying to help them build confidence in themselves and how to navigate challenges in everyday life. Mentoring is giving me a space to learn, as much as I am offering. I look forward to fostering great relationships that will carry throughout years beyond high school.
Hello, my name is Keymara Myers. I am a sophomore at Howard University Majoring in biology. Joining Advantage Lancaster and becoming a mentor has allowed me to meet many new students and share some of my high school and college experiences. This summer I look forward to having fun and sharing any advice the students may need.
My name is Genesis Meadows. I am an up and coming sophomore at University of Richmond next school year. I am majoring in mathematics with the intentions of becoming an engineer. This summer with AL, I am a Para Educator. This means that I do whatever needs to be done so that the kids have a successful day. I am so glad that I can be a mentor to all the students by giving them advice and guidance just like my mentors did when I went through Advantage Lancaster, and I am most looking forward to make meaningful connections with the new students and building stronger connections with the returning students.
Angel is currently a high school math teacher that loves to encourage students in and out of the classroom. She helps teach color guard at Hershey High School and works with individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Angel was a part of Advantage Lancaster when she was in middle school and has helped out in the past. Angel loves to be artistic, complete puzzles and play games. Advantage Lancaster has helped shape Angel by providing her with life long lessons and professional opportunities. Angel is excited to be a part of the Advantage Lancaster team and to help mentor our future leaders.
My name is Ms. Turner, and this is my second year in Advantage Lancaster! In AL, I teach middle school English Language Arts. During the school year, I teach 8th grade ELA at Wheatland Middle School. Something that I love about being a mentor is the positive feeling that I get when I am able to watch our kids learn and grow into strong-willed individuals! This summer, I am looking forward to foster close bonds with all of the students, so that I can continue to water those relationships throughout the school year. I am also looking forward to spending my birthday month with such a close-knit family like Advantage Lancaster!
I am SO excited to join the Advantage Lancaster family this summer! This is only my first summer but I quickly rearranged plans to be here as much as I can. I have the privilege of being our SEL lead this summer which allowed me the space to collaborate with other mental health professionals and my fellow SEL teachers to plan how best to support our students in their personal, social and emotional growth. Not only that but I get to teach it, too! As a former teacher and current school counselor, I love having the opportunity to fuse these two worlds together! I’m most excited to get to develop relationships with our students without the stress and constraints of a typical school day and to dip my toe into working with high school students. I leave every day with a heart full of happiness and fulfillment.
