In the midst of the winter holiday season and following the excitement of Giving Tuesday, I’m thinking about gratitude.

For so many of our students, the first day at Orchard Friends means so much more than the start of another school year—it’s the start of an entirely new relationship: with school, with learning, and with themselves.

For some students, a three-month break from school can result in the loss of hard-won skills gained the previous year. Orchard Friends’ Extended School Year is a way to provide more continuous support for these students, helping to reinforce these skills through fun, engaging lessons and activities.