Freedom School
About Freedom School
Maplewood UMC, in partnership with LifewiseStL, is excited to offer Freedom School again this summer for children who have completed Kindergarten through 5th Grade!
The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools seek to build strong, literate, and empowered children (known as “scholars” in the Freedom Schools program) by providing them with the tools to make a difference in themselves, their families, and the world around them. Freedom School plays a much-needed role in helping to curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps, by providing children with summer reading enrichment.
Freedom School will be held for six consecutive weeks from
June 17-July 26, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Freedom School is offered at no cost to participants. But, students must be available to attend for the full six-week period. We have room for 20 students.
Register early to reserve your space!
Links and downloads for Freedom School registration below.
What Happens at Freedom School
At Freedom School children begin the day with breakfast. After breakfast they gather for Harambe, which includes a read aloud, singing, announcements, and a moment of silence.
Scholars spend the morning interacting and learning together in classrooms. Servant Leader Interns facilitate classes of no more than 10 students.
During this time, the scholars read and engage in hands-on ways with high-quality children’s books. These books feature heroes, heroines, and settings that reflect the children’s own cultural images and history.
The morning closes with 15 minutes of independent reading--Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.).
After lunch the scholars experience a variety of enrichment activities, including weekly field trips.
At the end of the six-week session of Freedom School the children will leave with their own library of books to keep and enjoy.
If you have questions please email: Freedomschool@maplewoodumc.org
or Tawnya Johnson at tjohnson@lifewisestl.org
For more information email: communityunity@maplewoodumc.org
This year, aftercare will be available at no cost from 3 to 5:30 pm
The Community Unity Center, a ministry of Maplewood United Methodist Church, will be hosting Freedom School Aftercare this summer called Kid's Club Summer Camp!
Our Kid's Club Summer Camp Program will be a safe, nurturing, intergenerational community environment for Freedom School scholars and their families!
To register for the Community Unity Kid's Club Summer Camp Program (Aftercare) click on the box below!
For more information about aftercare email:
communityunity@maplewoodumc.org
Registration for Freedom School is Open!!
Click below to Register!
Coming Soon!
Looking for ways to help serve Freedom School?
Coming Soon! Click on the blocks below to learn how you can serve. Some training and and further information might be requested.
We are looking for mealtime helpers to sign up to help with breakfast from 7:50 a.m.-9:00 a.m. and/or lunch from 11:50am-1:00p.m.
We are looking for helpers from 3-5p.m. or 3-6p.m. These volunteers will lead activities with the children, serve snack and dinner.
We are looking for helpers to sign up to read to the Freedom School students from
8:50-9:30 a.m.
8:50-9:30 a.m.