Reading event kick off set for November 19

On November 19, a Tuesday, at 7 p.m., Title 1-A will sponsor a kick-off event entitled “Unwrap the Gift of Reading.”

According to Bev Scherr, curriculum coordinator at the Odessa School District, “We are trying to generate an interest in having families set aside a family reading time throughout December.”

For the event, Scherr is soliciting book donations, so that as many as possible can be “wrapped up” for children to open. The Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club has donated 200 books through the “Success by Six” program, a public-private partnership of the United Way. The local Friends of the Library and the Odessa Public Library are also supporting this event.

Throughout the month of December, parents will be encouraged to start a new tradition by setting aside time to read as a family each night. To make the activity more engaging, the books should be wrapped for the children to open each night. The books can be new or used. To get started, the program at school will provide a few books for parents/guardians to wrap. Creative ways can be used to wrap the books, such as by using newspapers, paper sacks or reused gift wrap.

On November 19, everyone will first meet in the Commons area of the high school to find out where to go and what to do.

Families will rotate through the following stations in varying order:

Story station 1: Listen to a special story at a reading station in the Commons or library (15 minutes).

Story station 2: Listen to another special story at a reading station in the Commons or library (15 minutes).

Book wrap: Pick out two to three books to wrap and take home. Pick up a calendar and book mark in the cafeteria (10 minutes).

Cookie decorating: Decorate your own special cookie in the cafeteria, then eat it or take it home (10-15 minutes).

Please RSPV by calling 982-2603 prior to the event.