By Zach Killian
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” says famed author Dr. Seuss.
The community of Warren and the Warren School District is helping students get excited about reading by getting involved in the R.I.S.E. program. R.I.S.E. stands for Reading Initiative for Student Excellence. The program is an award given to the community based on the partnership in projects that support and promote literacy.
The Warren School District applied for a SOAR Grant last year and the district was awarded the grant. The grant is a two-year grant for $176,000 total. The purpose of the grant is to promote a love of reading in schools.
The district brought in the community to promote reading with 10 events that could be chosen from. The events were: New Parent Imagination Library, the Book Bus, Family Reading Night, Community Leaders Reading to Students, Pink Tomato Festival, Community Easter Egg Hunt, Look Who Got Caught Reading, Author Visit, and Community Book Buzz.
The Warren Rotary Club partnered with the school to participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which allows a child to receive one free book a month from the age they are born until five years old. The school handed out registration forms for the program to parents at parent-teacher conferences. The school will help the Rotary Club with the Pink Tomato Festival and the proceeds will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.
The Book Bus will be a school bus driven around town that will give away free books that were purchased with the grant. Date and location will be advertised at a later date.
Eastside Elementary and Brunson Elementary both had family reading nights where parents could read with the students.
Community leaders also read to students in the classrooms. Rhonda Williams, School Improvement Specialist for the Warren School District, said a lot of them volunteered to read to students after it was advertised.
A booth will be set up during the Pink Tomato Festival where free books will be given out to all ages. The school will also be participating in the community Easter egg hunt where a booth will be set up to pass out free books.
The school is participating in “Look Who Got Caught Reading”. When a student is seen reading without being told to read, their picture is taken for the program. Williams said parents can send pics of their child reading by choice to rhonda.williams@warrensd.org for the program.
Two authors have visited the elementary schools. One local author, Sara Daniels, spoke to Eastside and Brunson students. Daniels wrote a children’s book and three adult books. She also teaches 9th grade English at Warren High School. Daniels shared with students what made her want to become a writer and how she got her book published.
Williams said she was saddened by the passing of author Glenn Lansdale, who was from Warren. She said they want to do an author showcase to honor his memory.
Many businesses have participated in the Community Book Buzz event, where a “reading corner” is set up. Williams said this has been a big hit.
Williams said she was contacted to apply for the R.I.S.E. Community Award after it was noticed all the community involvement in the SOAR grant. It was recommended to her to apply for the award.
The award is given to the community, not the school. The school district has to partner with people in the community. The more partners they have, the better the chance of receiving the award. The award will be given in September.
There needs to be at least six partners at each event. Williams said there are different ways to be a partner by volunteering at the events, donating water or books to hand out at events.
School staff provided books and provided social media advertisement for the campaign by using the hashtag #readacrosswarren. The school also hosted a book fair.
Warren Mayor Gregg Reep provided publicity at all speaking engagements and civic organization meetings about the READ program and #readacrosswarren.
The Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, First State Bank, Mane Event Salon, State Farm Insurance, George-Marsh Clinic, C2 Floor, Clanton Farms, Bradley County Medical Center and Main Street Market established book corners in their businesses.
Weyerhaueser donated books to Brunson Elementary. Rob Reep, owner of Saline River Chronicle donated copes of the children’s book “Let’s Go Fishin’” by the late Glenns Lansdale in his memory.
The Warren Women’s Club handed out dictionaries to all third graders in the Warren School District.
Students have been enjoying and getting involved in the reading. The students in Jennifer Milton’s, 12th grade English teacher, creative writing class have written children’s books as part of the class. During Read Across America Week, the students read their books to the students at Brunson to help promote reading.
Williams said she was also amazed at the positive reaction from Warren Middle School students. She said the community leaders have been reading at the middle school and have commented the students were receptive to the program. She said the students have also enjoyed the author visits.
The community has shown a lot of support and involvement in getting students to read.
If you would like to get involved or learn more information on this program, email Rhonda Williams at rhonda.williams@warrensd.org or call at 870-820-0135. Use the hashtag #readacrosswarren on social media to help promote and encourage reading in this community.
