Hundreds of students enjoyed shopping for books during Book-a-palooza at Nations Ford Elementary School in March. Trinity Presbyterian sponsored the book drive through Read Charlotte to help improve childhood literacy.
Students chose funny books, adventure books, the classics, fiction and non-fiction. What a great variety to get them started in building their own home library!
Book-a-palooza is fun for these young scholars. Each child chooses three books to keep. It’s a gift to help spark their imaginations and get them excited about reading.
Literacy Matters
Reading proficiency is crucial to their success in life and academic development. Too many children in our community fall behind. Only 39% of Charlotte’s third graders are reading on grade level. Children who are not reading at grade level are more likely to drop out of high school.
That’s why Trinity partners with Read Charlotte, a ten-year literacy initiative that unites families, educators and community partners around reading. Read Charlotte’s goal is to double the number of third graders reading at grade level, from 39% in 2015 to 80% by 2025.
At Nations Ford Elementary, a Title 1 school, families and teachers need support as they work to increase reading proficiency. Most of the scholars learn English as a second language and they have worked hard to make gradual gains in standardized test scores. The school’s improvement plan includes working with partners like Trinity Presbyterian Church to help close the achievement gap.
Helpers Unite
We could not have sponsored Book-a-palooza without the help of so many. Our church family was a great support, helping to purchase brand-new books for our scholars. Scholastic and Promising Pages also donated thousands of books.
Thank you to the Trinity volunteers who helped unpack and sort. We will do it again and continue our mission to support the scholars, parents, and teachers of Nations Ford.
Every book, every tutoring session, field trip and celebration that Trinity participates in with Nations Ford is one small way we can be the hands and feet of Christ. God calls us to serve others and be agents of positive change in our community.
Nations Ford has been a part of the Trinity family for 11 years. We are excited to support these scholars as they become great readers!
Nations Ford scholars shop for books.
Trinity members help sort books.