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News Release from Collier County Public School District
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ABOUT OUT MISSION:
(click on arrow at bottom of video)
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WHAT DO KIDS NEED?
MORE BOOKS TO READ!
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"Thank you" to our
Sponsors!
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K is for Kids thanks Arthrex!
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Ross Sabes, websitedesignby.com,
awarded
K is for Kids'
Shining Star 2011
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TEEN SUMMIT 2011: We had so much fun and learned even more. Thank you
SWFL Charity TV!
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(r) Tambra Wolfe, V.P. and Project Manager of GLHOMES, hands donation for K is for Kids to Karen Clawson.
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"Encourage today's readers. Inspire tomorrow's leaders."
K is for Kids� Foundation promotes children's literacy and leadership. Our teens and volunteers teach kids that reading is fun. Each year we partner with community leaders to engage children early and often about the excitement of reading and the power of words. From toddlers to teens, K is for Kids mission is to give kids in need more books to read.  | |
K is for Kids'
Teen Advisory Team
is the voice and inspiration driving the Foundation's mission,"Bringing books to kids everywhere."
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TEEN SUMMIT 2011
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Students get new books in their libraries plus some to take home and keep thanks to media specialists and K is for Kids' new RISING READERS program.
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From left to right: K is for Kids' founder and executive director, Karen Clawson with school media specialists and Collier County Public School District officials at Gulf Coast High School, September 22nd: Paul Ordetx, Immokalee High; Linda Pattyson, Lely Elementary; Daniel Perez, Lake Trafford Elementary; Shirley Wallner, Pinecrest Elementary; Carol Roberts, Golden Terrace Primary; Traci Dami, Collier County Public Schools Director of Staff Development, Instructional Technology & Media Services; Stephanie Griffin, Village Oaks Elementary; Kelly Knape, Golden Gate, Primary and Intermediate; Mary Bryan, Manatee Elementary; Beth Thompson, CCPS Chief Instructional Officer; Tiffany Weeks, Golden Terrace Intermediate; and Frank Senecharles, Immokalee High.
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Smiles turned brighter at the first meeting of media specialists held recently at Gulf Coast High School in Naples when new books were donated to ten school libraries serving many of Collier County's most economically needy students. The books were purchased with grant money from K is for Kids� Foundation. The media specialists had personally selected books that their students needed. K is for Kids founder Karen Clawson thanked Arthrex Inc. and Barnes & Noble Booksellers for helping to fund the grant.
"Books are such a smart gift, especially when donated
to a school library; one book might be read by many children over many years; the ratio of readers to book is maximized."
-- Karen Clawson, K is for Kids
 Grant recipients also got to choose more books donated by Neapolitans during the Foundation's "fun'raisers," or book drives, held annually each February during its Bring a Book, Bring a Friend� for Children's Literacy Month. "These donations begin a wonderful "trickle down" effect," explained Clawson. "If a book is not needed in the library, it can be donated to a teacher's classroom library or given directly to a child. The student benefits at every step, having more books and opportunities to read both in and out of school."
RISING READERS program rolls out
K is for Kids also introduced its new literacy program, RISING READERS. The initiative will help support media specialists' efforts to encourage students to read more and advance their reading fluency while recognizing students' achievements. Children who meet goals set by their media specialists will be able to choose a new book to take home and keep. "RISING READERS will place more books directly into the hands of children," said Clawson.
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Young students at Manatee Elementary School.
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"We are so fortunate to have such strong professionals in our school libraries," she said. "Libraries are still very much the 'heart' of the school and these dedicated individuals keep the pulse alive. Many media specialists come up with creative ways to challenge their students to read more books. K is for Kids is honored to help support their efforts."
"RISING READERS will boost the number of books a child has to keep and read at home. Children will be bringing literacy home to their families, sharing stories with their mothers and brothers, fathers and grandparents, sisters and friends."
Six elementary schools and one high school have signed up for the pilot program. In order to qualify, a school must have a student population having 80% or more economically needy children as categorized by the school district's lunch assistance program.
Nonprofits may also participate: K is for Kids donates books to children in need through other nonprofit organizations as well. This year, through its Building Book Nooks for Kids and RISING READERS programs, children at the Farm Workers Village in Immokalee, The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, Immokalee Child Care Center, AMIKids of Big Cypress - the "Swamp Boys," are benefiting from new books for their children to read in their programs and at home.
Supporters of RISING READERS include Arthrex Inc; First Book, National Book Bank; GLHOMES, SWFL Charity TV, websitedesignby.com, and Point of View writing and media relations.
To learn more about how to help children become leading readers, please call Karen Clawson at 239.596.KIDS or email Karen@KisforKids.org.
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"POWER UP WITH READING" PEP RALLY
Students at local elementary school are in for a special treat.
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Children attending Golden Terrace Elementary Intermediate School are in for special treat on October 13th, thanks to their media specialist, Tiffany Weeks -- that day, fourth and fifth graders will get to attend a pep rally, one that will get the youngsters cheering about ... reading. The pep rally, the second for Weeks, has proven to be a unique, yet powerful way to motivate the school's youngsters to pick up more books and read what's inside. If this pep rally is anything like last year's, it promises to make a powerful impact on these children who are amongst Collier County's most economically needy (almost 92% of the students are enrolled in the district's lunch assistance program). The theme, "Power Up With Reading," reflects the mission.
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Tiffany Weeks, GTEI Media Specialist and "Super Hero" with books for students to select, take home and keep.
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"To inspire my students to read more books last year I organized a pep rally for them. It was a huge success. I came to the assembly dressed as a super hero." Weeks told the students that she got her power from books. "I told them that I had the power of READING. Then I introduced the kids to books that I would be challenging them to read." After the pep rally Weeks said that many of the students rushed to the media center to check out the new titles. "It was wonderful to see the students so excited about reading." Weeks library records reflect that the number of books checked out by students increased dramatically last year.
Inspired by Weeks' creative efforts, GTEI has been selected by K is for Kids to be the focus school for its pilot program. RISING READERS will be introduced to students at the pep rally. The Foundation also will be handing out another incentive to help get the kids excited about visiting their school library: all students who take a pledge to participate in Weeks' reading programs will be able to choose a brand new book to take home and keep, courtesy of K is for Kids. The Foundation will also help provide new books for students to claim as their own as they continue to reach their reading goals.
"The best incentives," explained Weeks, "are often new books that the children get to take home and keep. That's where K is for Kids Foundation has come in to help bolster our efforts and give students more books to read."
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HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR KIDS
For more information about how K is for Kids Foundation is making a "smart investment" in Collier County youth and how you can help, email info@KisforKids.org,
PLEASE JOIN OUR MISSION.
HELP US "GIVE KIDS IN NEED MORE BOOKS TO READ."
K is for Kids Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is registered in the State, no. CH25318. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 800.435.7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
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