By Bob Willhite
The Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation approved a grant for the district’s third-grade students to receive books via mail throughout the summer, adding an additional component to the three elementary schools’ summer reading initiatives.
To help engage current third-grade students to read throughout the summer, the staff proposed the implementation of Kids Read Now, a nonprofit summer reading program.
Kids Read Now sends children nine brand new books through the mail, and families are able to keep the books. Students also receive comprehension postcards which help connect students to their reading.
During a kick-off event, families and students will learn about the summer program, and students will select their first three books, designed to share their interest and preferred genres. The total cost per student is $39.99, totaling $7,118.22 for all of the district’s third grade students. The VCS Foundation funded $6,618.22.
The foundation also gave a $300 Curiosity Grant to the Sunset Lake Leadership Team – the student council – for its Earth Day service project. The total cost was $612, with the leadership team paying the other portion. These student leaders handed out 600 Douglas fir saplings to the entire student body and staff.