Jun 1, 2021 | News
At BCPS, we encourage all of our students to keep learning all summer long so they can start the new school year ready to succeed! To help make a summer of learning even more exciting, we’re offering great prizes to students who participate in the Bearcat Summer Excellence Challenge, a self-driven challenge to keep your student engaged this summer. This is a great option for families who want students to get extra enrichment to stay challenged while school is out.
Students who participate in the Summer Excellence Challenge can keep their Chromebooks for the summer by filling out the online form here or below. If you fill out the form before the last day of school, your student can take their Chromebook home with them for the summer. If you fill it out after school is out, someone will be in contact with you to coordinate a pickup or drop-off time. Students who are signed up for the Summer Enrichment Program do not need to take home a device, since all these activities will happen during the day at school. Students in the Summer Enrichment program are still eligible for prizes so should be sure to bring their packets to school!
Students in Grades K-5
There are tons of ways to participate — pick one or do them all! Click here for all the materials you need for the Summer Excellence Challenge.
- Books: Each month your student will receive books in the mail from Kids Read Now. When your student finishes each book, you should text the number that comes with the books so your student gets credit!
- Virtual Learning: Your student can log in online through Clever and work on Dreambox, Accelerated Reader and i-Ready Reading programs. Prizes will be awarded based on how many minutes students spend on each platform and how many tests they pass on Accelerated Reader.
- Library Visits: Track your student’s visits to Willard library and get the bookmark in the materials linked above signed by the librarian.
Be sure to track your student’s work! And be sure to take photos along the way, in case you lose your booklet. When students return to school in the fall with their filled out packets, they will get prizes for their summer learning!
- For 30 day of summer learning: Students who complete 900 minutes on i-Ready, 30 Dreambox lessons, pass seven Accelerated Reader tests, read seven Kids Read Now books and visit Willard Library three times will receive a $5 McDonald’s gift certificate, a daily free Wendy’s Frosty (valid through December 31, 2021) and a pencil pouch filled with goodies.
- For 15 days of summer learning: Students who complete 450 minutes in i-Ready, 15 Dreambox lessons, pass four Accelerated Reader tests and visit Willard Library three times will receive a $5 McDonald’s gift certificate and a pencil pouch filled with goodies.
Students in Grades 6-8
Click here for all the materials and instructions for your student! Here’s the challenge:
- Read and pass an Accelerated Reader test for 5+ chapter books: Each student will get several books in the mail this summer, or students can check out books from Willard Library with their library card. Once your student finishes the book, login to Accelerated Reader through Clever and take the test! If your student reads at least five books this summer and passes an Accelerated Reader test for each one (with a score of 80% or higher), they will earn a $5 gift card for each book, up to $50 total!
Students in Grades 9-12
Click here to access materials. Here’s the challenge for our high school students:
- All you’ve got to do is read 5+ chapter books this summer to unlock cash prizes! If you read at least five books, you can earn $5 for each book, up to $50 total! Use the books you got from school, or check out books from Willard Library with your library card. Feel free to read anything that excites you!
You can get credit for reading by submitting an online Google form for each book you complete. In the materials linked above, you’ll see a card with a QR code that links to the online form.
Chromebook Checkout
Don’t forget to fill out the form below so your student can make the most of the Summer Excellence Challenge and keep learning all summer long!