| Young readers from thoughout the county gathered recently at Creekview elementary school to participate ih a reading event where 27 new reading centers were displayed. The reading centers are now out in the communities where children are most likely waiting with their parents. Some of the children and parents invovled in the reading event include Jonathan Sheik, Jeremy Sheik, Angel Eich, Ashie Eich,Zach Hight, Lorilyn Hight, Elise Vogel, Lorilyn Vogel, Denelle Rigby, Alison Marrelli, Danette Moynier, Mitchell Olson, July Olson, and Jordan Moynier |
In late October Creekview Elementary gymnasium was filled with 27 reading centers and stocked with over 60 books each promoting good values like self-esteem for all reading levels.
The event was attended by many members of the community including children, parents and public officials.
This project was made possible by local senior girl scouts Alison Marrelli and Denelle Rigbey who spent months putting the plans together. The money to fund the endeavor came from the program, “No child Left behind, a reading excellence act grant (REA). The reading centers were placed in areas such a medical and dental clinics, shelters, courts, headstart centers where children often wait with adults. Located in East Carbon, Wellington, Price and Helper, they give the children something constructive to do while they are waiting.
Elementary Supervisor Patsy Bueno says, “The greatest thing about this project was how so many projects all came into one.” REA and the school district were looking fir the manpower and these Girl Scouts were looking for a Gold Award project, while the coalition bloomed into a huge outreach project. “It was something needed on all ends,” said Marrelli, adding, “It was great to see what they could do when they worked together.”
Marrelli added, “With the president’s No Child Left Behind project, parents and the community can come together to see that no child is indeed left behind. It can’t just be the parents or the community, they must work together to be successful.”
Brady Donaldson, REA grant coordinator, adds, “Kids need a good background with reading in their family. We call it lap time and it really is helpful. They need to understand the importance of reading and writing and to have the exposure. We needed to find a way for the community to support the family when the children are in school. This project will help to that and really filled a gap for us.” He added that it is so important, “President Bush calls it the new right, reading isn’t a luxury, it’s the right of every child and we need to support families and parents.”
David Armstrong, superintendent, suggested to the parents, “for Christmas, instead of just toys, include books for an evening activity and read to them again and again until the child gets tired of hearing them.” He also said, “To celebrate your child’s success with reading, buy them another book and encourage them to ready and write their own stories. There are lots of ways to celebrate success.”