When spring arrives in the community, second-grade classrooms know that Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services students will conduct their annual "Read Across Kosciusko County" event.
This event emphasizes the importance of reading in a child's education. By reading a book and speaking to the second-graders, KEYS students act as role models, showing their excitement for reading to the younger students. This is the fourth year for "Read Across Kosciusko County."
KEYS is the youth philanthropy program of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. KEYS students represent grades 8-12 from the four school corporations in Kosciusko County: Lakeland Christian Academy, Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw and Wawasee. The mission of KEYS is "to work together to positively impact and improve education in our community by providing aid, now and for future generations." KEYS students will fulfill their mission and encourage reading by conducting "Read Across Kosciusko County 2008."
Tuesday, 20 KEYS students will travel to the 15 public and private elementary schools in Kosciusko County and speak to more than 1,000 second-grade students. They will read the book "One of Each" to the second-graders and encourage them to read. Each second-grade student will receive a bookmark to remind them to read. Each second-grade classroom will receive three books.
Board members of Kosciusko County Community Foundation and of Kosciusko Literacy Services, along with librarians from the county's public libraries, will accompany the KEYS students to the elementary schools.
"Read Across Kosciusko County" correlates with a national reading event, "Read Across America," which is held every March, the month of Dr. Seuss's birthday.
"Read Across Kosciusko County is an effective event encouraging a love of reading to young students. I am thrilled to be a part of it," said Joel Hogle, senior KEYS member from Wawasee High School and co-facilitator this year.
For more information about KEYS, visit the Web site at www.kcfoundation.org or call the foundation at 574-267-1901.
