According to principal Zelma Wiley, Maxfield has all the curriculum materials they need, but kids come from homes with no books, so they need books for kids to check out from school to read themselves or with their families, as well as books to keep and build a library at home. Maxfield has community partners, including Great Harvest Bread, and several weeks ago began this initiative to get books for kids to borrow and to keep. When my kids were at Jackson Elementary some years ago, we launched a number of similar efforts and had great responses from families and community members, and also got some grant monies to help beef up the school library. I applaud Maxfield's efforts and those of other schools that weren't lucky enough to get press attention this last weekend, and hope they all get lots of super books! Reading/literacy has been a key priority in St. Paul public schools for many years, and in the last couple has received increased attention through Superintendent Harvey's 25-Book Campaign. The ongoing need to have books for kids' independent reading applies to all our schools, but is most acute in schools with more families in poverty or who don't speak English. And of course with our new Hmong students and families from the Thai refugee camp, there's a critical need to enrich their learning environment with good books at school and at home. Schools especially need more contemporary books, rich literature, and rigorous and challenging books that reflect our students' rapidly increasing skills. So, any of you with wonderful books that you'd like to donate for pre-K to senior high students in St. Paul public schools, please do any of the following: Contact a school with which you have some connection or that's nearby and bring them in yourself -- what a great gift! (Find school contact information at www.spps.org.) You may also call or email school district staffer Kris Emerson at 767-8234 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] who can help coordinate your donation to target the neediest students and families. Thanks, all, for caring about all our kids. -- Anne Carroll, St. Paul School Board ------------------------------------------------------------ Anne R. Carroll Carroll, Franck & Associates Public Involvement, Strategic Planning, Communications 1357 Highland Parkway St. Paul, MN 55116 USA <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 651-690-9162 School Board: 651-690-9156
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice." -- Martin Luther King, Jr. "...You will be more credible and you will be more powerful if you do not separate the lives you live from the words you speak." -- Paul Wellstone "A politician worries about the next election. A true states[wo]man worries about the next generation, and children yet unborn." - e.e. cummings _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
