FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE N.R. #234, 6/17/98

Date: June 17, 1998

Contact: Irene Cromer

703/791-8720

SCHOOLS EARN 7-11 LITERACY GRANTS

Eight Prince William County Public Schools have been selected to receive literacy grants. These grants are sponsored by 7-11 (The Southland Corporation ) to help community-based literacy organizations and schools with reading programs. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $1,700 and total $11,200.

Antietam Elementary School

Antietam Elementary School has been awarded $1,500 to continue its "Choose to Read," program. This is the fifth year that the school has motivated students to develop good reading habits through the use of a school-wide reading incentive program which includes a computerized reading test program. Antietam will use the grant funds to purchase library books. June Najjum, school librarian, submitted the grant application.

Bennett Elementary School

"C.A.R.E. (Citizens Actively Reading for Education)," invites "citizen readers" to share their occupations with and read books to Bennett Elementary School students. The reader will be photographed with the students and one copy of the photo will be placed in a classroom scrapbook. Another copy will be sent to the reader with a special student-created thank you note. Bennett will receive $1,500 which will be used to purchase books and other necessary materials. Pam McCausland, first grade teacher, is the project director.

Enterprise Elementary School

"K.A.R.T. - Kindergartners are Readers Too," has earned a $1,500 grant for Enterprise Elementary School. The grant funds will be used to prepare "Book Baskets" for kindergarten students. Each basket will be filled with books that are developmentally correct for the individual students, who will also author and illustrate their own books to place in the basket. Some of the books will be sent home with the students to become part of their permanent collection. Kindergarten teacher Carol Anderson, submitted the grant.

Kilby Elementary School

Kilby Elementary School has been awarded a grant of $1,700 for "Writing and Reading with an Award Winning Author," a project that will bring children's author Elaine Moore to the school. Moore will explain the writing process to students and then offer grade-level workshops. A portion of the grant funds will be used to purchase copies of several of Moore's books. Pam Chryst, Kilby's reading teacher, is the project director.

Neabsco Elementary School

"Reading Recovery Materials," a project submitted by reading teacher Ines Scordo, earned a grant of $1,000 for Neabsco Elementary School. The grant funds will be used to purchase books to support the school's efforts to surround students with a print-rich environment. Children will participate in small instruction groups for guided reading and will receive plastic book baskets in which to collect leisure time reading and take-home books.

Triangle Elementary School PTO

The Triangle Elementary School PTO has been awarded a grant of $1,000 for its project "Listen and Learn with Recorded Books." The grant funds will be used to purchase cassette players/recorders, student headphones, blank cassettes and books on tape to supplement the school's reading instruction in grades one through five. Listening centers will be set up in ten classrooms, featuring the cassette players and an inventory of prerecorded books. Students will check out a book and tape and read at their own pace. Sue Long Gross, reading specialists, is the project director.

West Gate Elementary School

West Gate students will take the "Magic School Bus to the Public Library," with the help of a $1,500 grant. The grant funds will be used to provide bus transportation for all of the school's students, on a rotating basis, to visit the Bull Run Library in Manassas. Two classes will make the trip each week for the entire school year. The project director is Eowana Jordan, librarian.

Yorkshire Elementary School

"Book Beginnings" is a project designed to increase the exposure to books of preschool age children. The $1,500 of grant funds will be used to purchase books for distribution to local daycare providers and to provide them training on the importance of reading to children. The purchase of book cards and pockets will make it possible for parents to check out the books for home reading. The project director is Marcia Hoenle, reading specialist.