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Sixth summer for Reading College focusing on youth literacy

Jun 14, 2017 | 3:58 PM

A group of 63 students will benefit from the sixth annual Reading College program held at Red Deer College.

The annual program runs the month of July and funding efforts were bolstered in November with more than $40,000 being donated through Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie campaign.

The program is supported by Optimist Clubs of Red Deer, Prairie Bus Lines, Red Deer College, and now Tim Horton’s.

Reading College is seeing some expansion this year with the inclusion of 10 elementary schools within Red Deer Public Schools. This year’s one-month program will help 63 children, but the number of students helped each summer can vary based on need.

“What we want to do is to inspire kids to read and write and that’s what happens over that one month period,” said Foundation executive director, Bruce Buruma.

Students taking part in the Reading College program are those at the end of their second grade who may be struggling with either reading or writing. Teachers within the schools the Reading College serves are able to recommend students for the program.

At the kickoff BBQ Tuesday night, Buruma said a past Reading College student spoke about her experience.

“We had a student who is currently in grade five. She’s doing exceptionally well, she’s a very very strong student and attributes some of that to Reading College,” said Buruma.

Buruma said the student’s mom credits Reading College with building her daughter’s confidence in terms of reading.

“She was struggling, but this was just that little extra push that made a difference,” said Buruma.

The focus of Reading College is largely on developing the reading and writing skills of students and reinforcing the important concepts to carry them into grade three, said Buruma.

“It’s just a different twist on what they’re doing regularly in schools. Once they’ve got that interest and motivation, they can go as far as they want.”