Southgate School is helping its students fight summer learning loss by providing every Southgate student with books through its “Big Bag of Books Event.”
The event, held during the last week of school, allowed students to select their own books to take home for their personal libraries. Nearly 1,200 books were provided to Southgate students, who were able to choose books based on their interests and reading level.
The students were issued a summer reading challenge, and the school library will be open for their use twice a week during the months of June and July. Students were also able to select early childhood books for their younger siblings.
Plenty of books to distribute
“Our students received such a blessing through the Adopt a Book program with the donation of approximately 1,200 books. The look on the children’s faces when filling their bags was priceless! They were so excited to find the little treasures on the library tables,” said Greg Duty, Superintendent of Southgate Independent Schools. “The goal is to hold a ‘Big Bag of Books Event’ every year in Southgate so our children will continue to get books for their personal libraries. Today’s readers are tomorrow’s leaders.
The majority of the books used for the event were donated by Adopt A Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering literacy and a love of reading by distributing new and gently used books to disadvantaged children. The organization was created by a pair of 14 year old twins, Hannah and Alexander Laman, in 2011. The children, who love to read, were inspired to act after they learned about children in Greater Cincinnati who didn’t own any books.
“It’s really important to give back to others, especially if it’s going towards a child’s education,” said Hannah Laman. “I love to read and couldn’t imagine what it would be like to not have access to books or even own a book of my own, “ said Alex Laman.
Decisions, decisions . . . .
The “Big Bag of Books Event” is part of a partnership between the Southgate Independent School District and the Northern Kentucky Education Council for the Read On! initiative. The initiative promotes early grade-level reading through targeted efforts with kindergarten readiness, summer learning, attendance, and literacy. Southgate School will serve as a Read On! demonstration site for the 2017-18 school year; the Northern Kentucky Education Council will work collaboratively with the school to better engage community and business partners, and to support best practices.
“The role of the Council is to serve as a catalyst for our regional education goals, which include reading on grade level, as well as preparing students to be ready for college, career, and life,” explained Polly Lusk Page, Executive Director of the Northern Kentucky Education Council.
“By partnering with local schools such as Southgate, we can work together to make sure that all of our children and youth are successful… in school and beyond.”
The Northern Kentucky Education Council (NKYEC) is the overarching organization in Northern Kentucky for the alignment of education initiatives that support the region’s population from birth to career. The Council serves as a catalyst for collaboration, change, and progress toward the area’s education goals and has aligned the work of more than 80 partners to accomplish this.
Adopt A Book is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering literacy and a love of reading by distributing new and gently used books to disadvantaged children. To date, over 123,279 books have been distributed to children, schools, and other nonprofit agencies in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. To make a donation of books or to hold organize a book drive, contact info@adoptabookohio.org.
