DALTON–(July 11)–Book
lovers young and old are invited to come out to celebrate community literacy at
the Gaston Community Center Thursday,
June 19, from 4 to 6 pm.
The
Celebration of Community Literacy is a kickoff event for Readers to Leaders
(R2L), a community initiative adopted by the Dalton-Whitfield Archway
Partnership to support, encourage, and nurture early literacy among Dalton and
Whitfield County students.
Against
the festive backdrop of fun, inflatables, and food, reading will take center
stage. There will be cozy reading circles for children of all ages where
stories will be read by community volunteers and where children can also choose
to read to themselves or aloud to appreciative listeners, said Pam Partain, an Archway
Partnership volunteer and event organizer.
Reading-related
craft activities will allow children to create their own bookmarks and
illustrate books they’ve read on personal hand fans. The Dalton-Whitfield
Public Library will have applications available for participants to register
for library cards, and every child will leave with a book.
“We
know the benefits of early literacy are many – not only to the individual, but
to our whole community,” said Partain. “We want Dalton and Whitfield County to
be a community that encourages and celebrates reading.
“The
Gaston Community Center is the ideal venue for this Celebration because it was
designed and constructed to support early growth and development in children so
they can be optimally prepared for success in school and in life, “ Partain
said. As a special treat, Celebration participants will have exclusive use of
the Community Center’s new splash pad from 6 to 7 pm Thursday evening following
the event.
It
is well documented that students who master reading early are well prepared for
the tougher content areas of science, math, and social studies, Partain said.
Reading proficiency develops critical thinking, analysis, information
processing, and problem solving abilities – skills that will help students
throughout their school careers. Early readers are more likely to graduate high
school and be better prepared for college and the information and
technology-driven jobs of the 21st century workplace.
The
community benefits in multiple ways, Partain continued. “It’s good for
workforce development. The more students we get through school with a good
education, the richer the pipeline of qualified individuals available for our
local employers. Those educated workers will qualify for better paying jobs;
higher wage-earners will pump more dollars back into the local economy.
“Industry
prospects are attracted to communities that value education and the quality of
our school systems will be scrutinized by companies and families considering
locating in our area,” she continued. Even crime rates could go down, she said,
noting that criminal activity often draws those who have few other options.
“Our
school systems, with the backing of our city and county governments and local
business and civic leaders, have taken the bold move of doing what it takes to
ensure that all children in our public schools systems are proficient readers
at an early age,” said Partain. “This gives them the best chance of staying on
track in school, graduating high school, going to college and getting the
education they need to be successful in work and in life. We support that and
will celebrate that Thursday afternoon from 4 to 6 pm at the Gaston Community
Center. We invite everyone to join us.”
Sponsors
for the Celebration include Archway Partnership, City of Dalton, Dalton Public
Schools, Dalton State College, Whitfield Family Connection, Greater Dalton
Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Dalton-Whitfield, Mohawk Industries, Shaw
Industries, United Way of Northwest Georgia, Whitfield County Schools,
Whitfield County, and Young Professionals of Northwest Georgia.
Anyone
wishing to volunteer to be a reader is welcome to register at www.volunteernwga.org; sign up for
Literacy Celebration.
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