Fort Scott summer reading program begins in June

Saturday, April 9, 2011

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- A local weekly summer reading program, scheduled to begin in June, is designed to keep area youth reading and learning throughout the summer.

Area children and families are invited to join the Fort Scott Elementary Schools Parent-Teacher Organization and the Fort Scott Public Library for the Summer Library Program and participate in several fun programs and events planned for children up to 11 years of age.

"Reading is very important," Julie Townsend, librarian at the Fort Scott Public Library, said. "Kids in the summertime get so relaxed and laid back, sometimes they lose track. They can lose a lot over the summer. We want them to keep up with their skills."

With the absence of the USD 234 summer school program, the summer reading program creates an "incentive to encourage kids to read" during the summer months so they are better prepared when the next school year begins, Fort Scott Elementary Schools PTO member Angie Kemmerer said.

"When kids go without reading, their scores tend to drop," she said. "This (program) will keep kids actively reading throughout the summer so when they start school they haven't lost any ground."

Whether counting the amount of time children spend reading or the number of books they read during the summer, children who join the summer library program keep their brains active and enter school in the fall ready to learn and succeed, according to information provided by organizers.

The theme of this year's program, "One World, Many Stories," will explore countries and cultures around the globe. Children will explore places from Oceania to Russia through stories, crafts, music, dance and other activities, all of which are free and open to children of all abilities.

The program will also include prize drawings, story hours, a reading club, and a reading celebration.

"It will be a really fun time for kids who participate," Kemmerer said.

There will be two different areas of the program; one for independent readers and another for "family readers," or kids who require parents or caregivers to read stories to them, Kemmerer said.

Readers will meet for story time, a related craft and to turn in that week's reading passport every Saturday starting June 11 and continuing through July 30 at the Fort Scott Public Library. Story time will take place at 10 a.m. with the craft directly following.

Volunteers will be available every week to help with activities, Townsend said.

Four professional storytellers will give presentations on June 10, June 20, July 6 and July 28. There will be a kickoff party featuring food, games and other activities on June 11 starting immediately after the 10 a.m. story time.

Storytellers who are scheduled to visit include Kevin Horner, of Bonner Springs, Kan., who also performs magic, Brian Wendling of Kansas City, Mo., who also juggles and performs comedy, and musicians Thad Beach of Salina, Kan., and Alan Cunningham of Ottawa, Kan., Townsend said.

Throughout the program, organizers will provide progressive prizes based on books read and a final celebration will take place the evening of July 30 to acknowledge every child and their family's commitment to read over the summer.

At the end of the program, organizers hope to be able to provide books for kids to take home, Kemmerer said.

Registrations are being accepted now through June 9 at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Ave., Eugene Ware Elementary School, 900 E. Third St., and Winfield Scott Elementary School, 316 W. 10th St., until the last day of school, and June 11 at the Fort Scott Public Library, 201 S. National Ave.

For more information, contact Kemmerer at (620) 224-4816, or the library at 223-2882.

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