DPS kicks off brand new Family Summer Academic Olympics!

Weekly academic activities and workbooks for all ages to take home beginning next week include Rockin’ Readers Tuesdays, Family Field Day Wednesdays and Math Made Easy Thursdays

DETROIT - Detroit Public Schools is catching the Olympics spirit by engaging families to be a part of the brand new DPS FAMILY SUMMER ACADEMIC OLYMPICS, a new summer learning contest and campaign.

The contest consists of weekly academic activities and take-home workbooks for all ages. The weekly activities begin July 16, 2012. Themes include Rockin’ Readers Tuesdays, Family Field Day Wednesdays and Math Made Easy Thursdays. A DPS summer reading list and other activities also will be incorporated into the contest and can be found at www.detroitk12.org/SayImInToSummerReading

Families will track points to win the GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE medals at the culminating event in August and win incentives like Family Fun Packs, gift cards and a surprise grand prize for families that take home the GOLD medal.

“As one of many strategies to empower parents to play a lead role in their children's education, we are introducing the Summer Academic Olympics as a tool parents can use to fight brain drain, and maintain and strengthen math and reading skills over the summer!” said Sharlonda Buckman, CEO of the Detroit Parent Network.

Registration will occur Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in any DPS Parent Resource Center. During that time, families will receive an overview of the DPS FAMILY SUMMER ACADEMIC OLYMPICS program. For locations, go to www.detroitk12.org/parents . A marathon team of parents and Detroit Parent Network organizers kicked off the program Thursday July 12 at the Ludington Magnet Middle School Parent Resource Center, which was decked out in red, white and blue for the occasion. The group announced the details of the DPS FAMILY SUMMER ACADEMIC OLYMPICS and then lit the ceremonial Olympics torch.