I was super-excited to be able to get the Neighborhood Schools Program (NSP) involved as a partner to the Hyde Park Kenwood Community Action Council (HPKCAC) as they held the first “Jane Averill Community Reading Day” on October 6th. One of the goals of the HPKCAC as an organization is to generate more community engagement and support for the local schools and through this event they were able to get over 80 volunteers into the 9 elementary schools in HP/Kenwood to meet the school leaders and read to Pre-K students. The day’s book was the wonderful “We All Sing with the Same Voice” that was a favorite of Jane Averill (who passed away a few years ago), an excellent educator at Ray Elementary School. Almost $3000 were raised to help buy copies of the book for all the Pre-K (and some Kindergarten classes) that were involved.
I hope that the HPKCAC decides to make this event a regular event — I think that it’s a tremendous opportunity for schools to welcome in their neighbors and supporters while making that interaction about something substantive.
As someone whose professional life has largely been about making connections from the outside into schools, this event speaks to an idea that’s very important me. I’ve never thought that our schools are situated in such a way — resources, staffing, expectations — where they are designed to be successful on their own. From my vantage point, the only way to change the equation and is to work with schools to figure out what the right partnerships and external supports are optimal to help teachers and students succeed.
The Jane Averill Community Reading Day is a just one day, but it speaks to this idea in a way thats particularly compelling — that a broader community can mobilize to do some tangible good in support of students’ love of reading. Thanks to the volunteer coordinators and team that put this together!
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