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KEYS |
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KEYS is a group of community members who focus on prevention efforts for
children 5-10 years of age. Elna Kawal called the meeting to order. Introductions were made by each person. Those attending were Elna Kawal (Sequim School Board Member), Ann Ashley (Port Angeles School District), Irene Smith (Forks Elementary School), Karen Junell (Sequim School District), Judith Morris (United Way), Larry Welsch (First Book), Jody Jacobsen (Rock and Roll), Kathleen Dione (Community Member), and Cynthia Martin (Parenting Mattters Foundation). Minutes
of the last meeting were read to bring us back to where we left off in May.
Book DriveForks will be distributing books during Hickory Shirt Day. Lots of readers will be there and then they will selecta book. Irene said they have a lot of books to give away. Elna Kawal showed boxes we put out in Sequim and Crescent. We did get some but could use more. When people saw it they would have to remember the next time. Cynthia talked about how we used the dontations for Spanish speaking students to have teenagers read to them. Kathleen
Dione catalogued all the books that came in from the Crescent area. County
Literacy Calendar Elna
suggested we look at what is happening across the county.
Judith suggested we need to have a focal point for any drives we have.
Ann talked about following a timing that is natural like back to school
or at festive events.
Larry suggested even Christmas.
Kathleen suggested we let people know exactly what the longer goal is
for a coming festival or activity. Judith
discussed the fact that we need to have more county-wide coordination of
efforts to involve the community effectively.
At times there are events being published in the Sequim Gazette to
encouraged to read.
Karen talked about the material in The Seattle Times which see said
were exceptionally good. Judith
continued (correctively and effectively) to try to keep our group focused.
Ann discussed two times per year to try to get people to donate books.
Karen suggested we avoid the holiday time because of other campaigns.
One school has a month in November as a Family Reading Month has been
set for reading campaign.
Forks has a winter reading program and Read Across America which may
come in May.
Ann suggested we have a campaign before school begins and one in April.
Then we could distribute books during the Juan de Fuca Festival doing
the first one in August or September for the first campaign.
Karen discussed the Greywolf Cougar Writing Conference.
There is also a national campaign that is connected with Dr. Seuss’s
birthday which might be a good focus for emphasizing literacy.
Irene says Forks has a time during winter months when children count
minutes they spend reading which are verified by parent or guardian.
Then they have a celebration honoring the winners of the grade level
conference. This
drive is around a certain theme and the program is used throughout the entire
building. The
primary reading is to be done at home.
Booster Club helps organize the program. So
after all this discussion, the group felt it would help to have two
drives--Family Reading Month & Read Across America to emphasize the
importance of reading Judith
wanted to know if any school was doing reading in the school at night and as a
family activity.
At least one night at one school in Sequim is organized to bring
families in to read.
Maybe we should have book exchanges to also increase books available
for this kind of activity.
Irene also uses books that have previously donated and then people can
trade books. Cynthia
said she could send material out to elementary principals in Clallam County to
do a survey to see what activities related to literacy are being done.
Irene
suggested we get all the information on community activities to put on a
calendar. Anyone
learning of groups with activities should contact Cynthia cynthia@firstteacher.org. Literacy
Survey The
goal of the survey is to find out where we can fit in.
Principals will know what would be most helpful.
What are schools currently doing to promote reading either individual
or with families?
Does a school have an events that they use to promote reading or
literacy? Is
their PTO involved?
Who is in charge of the event or who should be the contact person with
KEYS? How
do we contact them?
Do they do anything with the Read Across America (Dr. Seuss’s
Birthday in May) and what is it that they do?
We need to begin by telling them who we are and how we hope to enhance
existing program.
We have a shared goal of literacy.
George Stratton at the Library is interested in cooperating with us. Karen
talked about articles about what people are reading.
Catch people reading was a goal in Sequim at the end of one year.
Look at the important people in our community and what they are
reading. Look
at teachers, custodians, commissioners, but remember that reading is also
magazines and the newspaper.
Maybe need to talk with John Brewer who is interested in reading.
We aren’t quite ready to have him come to a meeting. Ann
will help by being the sponsor to get people out to the service clubs; she
will get us a list of all the service clubs and see if they will open up to
speakers. Irene
will contact the people in the Forks area. First
Book Larry
said that John Hicks is no longer employed by the city so we need someone else
to collect money for the First Book.
We need to find someone to help write grants to try to provide books.
First Book will continue nationally.
Nationally they match the funds.
The entire Northwest Office has been moved back to Washington DC.
Next
Meeting
Next
meeting will be on Tuesday, October 16. at 4:15 with telelinking between
Quillayute Valley School District and the Port Angeles School District Office.
The linking number is 206 221-8962. For questions, please contact Elna Kawal |
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