Children’s Literacy Foundation brings stories and books to Manchester

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Children’s Literacy Center

MANCHESTER, NH — Starting this week, children served by the Manchester School District’s Summer Learning Academy, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and other summer programs will be treated to a storytelling presentation and brand new books to keep, thanks to a grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF).

The first session will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10 at Parker-Varney Elementary School, where children from Gossler Park and Parker-Varney are attending the Summer Learning Academy (SLA) and a YMCA summer camp. Storyteller Marty Kelley will lead an interactive presentation, and then each child will be able to select two new books from hundreds of titles to bring home. After the Parker-Varney presentation, Marty will travel to Northwest to lead another session for the Northwest SLA at 11 and the West Side 21st Century Community Learning Centers Afterschool Program, which is also held at Northwest at 12:45 p.m.

CLiF awards Summer Readers grants to organizations serving children who are at high risk of experiencing the so-called “summer slide.” Research shows that children who don’t read over summer vacation tend to lose some literacy skills, while children who do read improve their reading abilities. Low-income children and youth often experience greater summer learning losses than their higher-income peers. 

The partnership between the Manchester School District, the Granite YMCA, and CLiF expects to reach more than 1,150 young readers in Manchester this month.

“Our schools are committed to offering as many learning opportunities as possible during the summer vacation months,” said Sherri Nichols, executive director of the innovation zone for the Manchester School District, who secured the Summer Readers grant. “Fun and interactive presentations such as what CLiF provides are a terrific way to encourage reading and the development of a lifelong love of books.” 

About the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF):
CLiF is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1998. Its mission is to nurture a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk, and rural children in New Hampshire and Vermont. CLiF has inspired more than 200,000 young readers and writers through literacy program grants and has given away more than $5 million in new, high-quality children’s books. For more information, visit www.clifonline.org.

Schedule:

Wednesday, July 10 with Storyteller Marty Kelley

9:00 a.m. — Parker-Varney, 223 James A. Pollock Drive

11.00 a.m. — Northwest SLA, 300 Youville Street
12.45 p.m. — Northwest/Gossler Park/Parker-Varney 21st CCLC, 300 Youville Street

Monday, July 15 with Storyteller Erin Moulton

9:00 a.m. — Wilson SLA, 555 Cedar Street

11.00 a.m. — Beech SLA, 333 Beech Street

12.45 p.m. — Beech/Wilson/McDonough 21st CCLC, 333 Beech Street

 

Monday, July 22 with Storyteller Simon Brooks

9:00 a.m. — Webster SLA, 2519 Elm Street
11.00 a.m. — Bakersville SLA, 20 Elm Street
12.45 p.m. — Bakersville/Hallsville 21st CCLC, 20 Elm Street


Tuesday, July 23 with Storyteller Simon Brooks
9:00 a.m. — Jewett SLA, 130 S. Jewett Street
11.00 a.m. — Hallsville SLA, 275 Jewett Street

Monday, July 29 with Storyteller Simon Brooks

9:00 a.m. — McDonough SLA, 550 Lowell Street
11.00 a.m. — Weston SLA, 7 Michigan Avenue

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Manchester School District