Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It’s been a great summer for young minds in American Samoa, with one of the 2023 Summer learning programs, partnered with the Feleti Barstow Library, now in its final month. The three programs were hosted by community groups and focused on the theme “All Together Now” provided by the library’s Collaborative Summer Library Program.

In an interview with Miss Lorena Seu, director of the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Samoa News was told that, “Every June through August the Feleti Barstow Library has the opportunity to implement reading programs with themes provided by the Collaborative Summer Library Program.”

This year’s theme of “All Together Now” focused on acceptance of self and others.

She noted that the territory’s public library “has had a wonderful opportunity to partner with several different organizations, including the Agency for Better Living Endeavors (ABLE), the Aoelua Summer Reading Program, and the BYU Alumni American Samoa Chapter.

The ‘All Together Now’ theme focused on learning as a group experience with all the Summer programs being a vibrant hands-on experience comprising lectures, games & activities and field trips to stimulate the young minds.

The director of the collaborative Summer library provided the following information on the three programs.

ABLE: DISCOVERING AMERIKA SAMOA

The ABLE program, Discovering Amerika Samoa, took place from June 19, 2023 to July 14, 2023. The 4-week program was a partnership with ABLE the American Samoa Department of Education and the Feleti Barstow Public Library.

This program was created by the ABLE team, which gave the participants the opportunity to learn about Amerika Samoa from the history, location, culture, government, etc.

Participants also visited the library to learn computer skills and create Canva videos and presentations reflecting on who they are and what they have learned about Amerika Samoa.

AOELUA SUMMER READING PROGRAM

The Aoelua Summer Reading program is happening in Nuuuli and at the DYWA- Tafuna locations throughout the months of June to August.

The Aoelua SRP lead, Dr. Salote Aoelua Fanene created and implemented a curriculum that supports student learning through stories, games, art, social emotional learning and so much more.

The focus is on the foundation of reading and skills along with critical thinking through fun games and activities helping students to engage in learning and increase literacy skills. 

BYU ALUMNI AMERICAN SAMOA CHAPTER

The BYU Alumni American Samoa Chapter’s Summer Reading Program took place from July 18, 2023 to July 28, 2023. Special guests from the David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University — a team of 4 consisting of one professor and three students — focused on teaching participants about feelings and emotions through culturally adaptive stories.

One of the students was Samoan, and is studying psychology at BYU.

The team focused on teaching participants about feelings and emotions through culturally adaptive stories.

Learning and engagement ranged from music, games & activities, and literature that had participants learn about one another and how to work together as a team through STEAM activities and stories supporting the ‘All Together Now’ theme.