Our school and local library team up every summer to serve our students with our Bookmobile. This program was created in 2011 by our school staff, with the library joining forces in 2012. It is a program that allows the 318 students who live in two mobile home parks to interact with staff of both the school and library over the summer. Our Bookmobile (which is really just staff members and their vehicles) goes to the two mobile parks three times during the course of the summer.
The Bookmobile houses the books, and staff interact with the children. These staff members provide books, readers’ advisory, STEM activities, crafts, refreshments, and smiles.
The majority of these students do not have the opportunity to visit the library during the summer. Statistically, there has been an eighty percent poverty rate or higher at our school over the last ten years; and most parents are either working and childcare is being provided by a caregiver.
There is also the logistical issue of the elementary students being able to have access to transportation to the library. Given that the mobile home parks are over seven miles away from the library, these students do not have the transportation means to get to the library during the summer months. In fact, many students have to take a bus to school during the summer months to attend summer school.
As one can imagine, the program does not have much funding and the library provides a staff person and our school provides teachers, para professionals, and the principal who volunteer their time. With this project, we can help prevent local children from having a drastic loss in reading skills, especially for kids in need.
About my class
Our school and local library team up every summer to serve our students with our Bookmobile. This program was created in 2011 by our school staff, with the library joining forces in 2012. It is a program that allows the 318 students who live in two mobile home parks to interact with staff of both the school and library over the summer. Our Bookmobile (which is really just staff members and their vehicles) goes to the two mobile parks three times during the course of the summer.
The Bookmobile houses the books, and staff interact with the children. These staff members provide books, readers’ advisory, STEM activities, crafts, refreshments, and smiles.
The majority of these students do not have the opportunity to visit the library during the summer. Statistically, there has been an eighty percent poverty rate or higher at our school over the last ten years; and most parents are either working and childcare is being provided by a caregiver.
There is also the logistical issue of the elementary students being able to have access to transportation to the library. Given that the mobile home parks are over seven miles away from the library, these students do not have the transportation means to get to the library during the summer months. In fact, many students have to take a bus to school during the summer months to attend summer school.
As one can imagine, the program does not have much funding and the library provides a staff person and our school provides teachers, para professionals, and the principal who volunteer their time. With this project, we can help prevent local children from having a drastic loss in reading skills, especially for kids in need.
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