APRIL IS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH
A huge thank you to our volunteer tutors. Because of YOU 112 North Chicago students have received virtual reading intervention this school year.
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Our partners at North Chicago's LEARN 6 and LEARN 10 have welcomed students back to in-person learning this month. Our tutors will remain committed virtually throughout the remainder of the school year. We look forward to finishing the 2020/2021 school year strong! |
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Summer Program Announcement |
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After a successful pilot program in 2020, Reading Power will double its summer virtual tutoring program for 2021. The program will be offered to rising first and second grade students from LEARN 6 and 10 schools. It will run for six weeks and help students make up the ground they may have lost during the 2020/2021 academic school year closures. |
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Help Close the COVID Learning Gap |
A $100 donation sponsors a week of summer programming for a Reading Power student.
Your support is vital. On average, due to pandemic school closures, students could lose five to nine months of learning by the end of June 2021. Students of color could be six to 12 months behind (McKinsey, June 2020). Reading Power is committed to doing more to close the COVID learning gap.
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Prekindergarten Spotlight: North Chicago |
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When the COVID-19 pandemic upended one-to-one in-person tutoring at Green Bay Early Childhood Center (GBECC) last spring, Prekindergarten Site Coordinator Joy McGreevy and Assistant Site Coordinator Karen Uihlein were determined to figure out a way to pivot.
“Before COVID, we were down on the classroom rug reading and talking with the students. No agenda, other than dialogic reading,” Joy shared. With those experiences on hold due to the pandemic, Joy reflected on her classroom philosophy Joy McGreevy and Karen Uihlein
to guide the way: be a positive partner to
the classroom teachers.
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Like many during the early days of the pandemic, the teachers were overwhelmed. “My thought was how can we support them during this time?” With that goal in mind, Joy and Karen proposed giving high-quality, hardcover books to all prekindergarten students and classrooms during the 2020/2021 school year. Joy found satisfaction in sourcing the books; some English, some Spanish, all reflecting a diverse community and world. Karen handled much of the book delivery. “We wish we could be sitting on a purple pillow reading to them in person, but this is the next best thing.” |
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Over 1,800 books have landed in the backpacks and homes of over 200 prekindergarten students this school year, thanks to a generous donation from Reading Power donors. |
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In the fall, books were distributed to students through pick-up days. When in-person classes resumed, teachers were able to create more hands-on learning opportunities. GBECC teacher Catherine Haberkamp shared, “It was so much fun to let students look at the books in class and then tell them they could take them home.” |
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While nothing can replace Reading Power’s one-to-one sessions, Joy says the book giveaway program is “simple but impactful.” Whitney Everds, GBECC Reading Specialist, agreed adding, “The program has also helped in teaching important book knowledge skills. I have been able to reinforce concepts of print by asking such questions as 'Where is the title? , 'Where does the sentence start?', and 'Can you find an uppercase B?' Thanks to Reading Power for supporting literacy development in North Chicago School District #187. You are imparting the joy of reading to our students every day.”
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Prekindergarten Spotlight: South Carolina |
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“It’s never going to work if you don’t try.” This is the can-do attitude that Reading Power co-founder Mary Jane Hender, Ed.D and Kay Roller South Carolina Site Coordinator took when they began offering virtual one-to-one tutoring sessions to over 50 South Carolina prekindergarten students earlier this year.
The two first had to address technology challenges at Joseph S. Shanklin and Broad River Elementary schools. With the help of a community grant, iPads were purchased for all 1,100 prekindergarten children in Beaufort County. Additionally, Reading Power supplied earphones for many Reading Power students to aid in their sessions.
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With lessons learned from North Chicago, virtual tutoring sessions hit the ground running in February 2021. “Students are eager to engage, and our tutors are embracing the challenge of learning the technology,” noted Mary Jane. Classroom teachers are already seeing the benefits. “We are small but mighty,” marvels Mary Jane Hender. |
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New Board Member Announcement |
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Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson, MBA
Director, Strategic Marketing at Horizon Therapeutics
The Reading Power Board is excited to welcome Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson. Jacalyn is a Marketing Executive in the pharmaceutical industry where she has helped introduce life-changing medications such as Humira (for rheumatoid arthritis) and Trilipix (cholesterol), along with working on numerous established brands in healthcare. Her focus has been on educating patients on disease management and giving them a voice to advocate for better health.
A North Chicago resident for many years, Jacalyn’s passion is giving back to her community especially relating to food, housing, and education insecurity. She has served as VP on the PADS Board and is a current member of the Brushwood- Ryerson Board. Jacalyn was thrilled to learn about Reading Power’s mission sharing, “The key to success is reading.”
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Sponsor a North Chicago Family for Drive-In Movie Night
Reading Power will host a Fun Family Literacy Event at Lincolnshire’s Loft 21 on Sunday, May 23, 2021, to kick off summer programming. Families will watch Disney’s family film “Coco” and enjoy a pizza party during the socially safe drive-in event.
DONATE HERE to sponsor a North Chicago family’s night out for $40 per car.
Please join us in DOING MORE together to give back to North Chicago families!
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Who's ready FORE some fun?
Please save the date for our Play for Literacy event coming September 13, 2021. More information coming soon!
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Our Mission
Working in partnership with underserved schools,
Reading Power provides one-to-one tutoring during the school day
for children in prekindergarten through second grade.
Our mission is to accelerate children's literacy learning,
and to develop in them a love of reading and writing.
All children deserve to reach their intellectual potential.
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Reading Power Board of Directors |
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Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman, CEO
Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair
Jim Young, MBA, Treasurer
Ann Bates, EdD
Kathleen Cowie, Secretary
John Davidson
Rob Davis, JD, MBA
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
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Rahul Malhotra, MBA
Melinda Mooney
Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson, MBA
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Frank Sibley
Arthur Turner
Mary Weber, MA
Tom Wood
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus
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Reading Power Program Staff |
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Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Director of Programs
Kate Burke, BS, Marketing and Communications Manager
Daniela Cruz, Program Assistant
Nancy Duffy, Resource Development Manager
Joanie Alley, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Katie Burdiak, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator
Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator
Kristin Fine, MEd, Site Coordinator
Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator
Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator
Mary Jane Hender, EdD, Site Coordinator
Joy McGreevy, BA, Site Coordinator
Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Kay Roller, MSEd, Site Coordinator
Marion Schmidt, BS, Site Coordinator
Karen Uihlein, MA, Assistant Site Coordinator
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SHARE this email with your friends and help us GROW to reach more children!
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