School chiefs "nosy" about reading

MERRILLVILLE | Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition  and Books to Bridge the Region made their annual presentation to area school superintendents at the Northwest Indiana Public Schools Study Council meeting last week.

This year’s presentation noted the 10th anniversary of the Time Out for Reading literacy promotion, and results of this year’s new “Ten Reasons to Read” contest, won by six students attending St. John Bosco School in Hammond. An estimated 3,500 participated in the contest.

Dian Reyome, president of the NWILC, and Linda Swisher, public information coordinator for the Hammond Public Library and representing B2BR, also promoted the 25th anniversary of NWILC’s Executive Spelling Bee, scheduled for Sept. 25 at Ameristar Casino in East Chicago immediately following a Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m.

Each superintendent was given a “Lit Kit Bag” which contained “Put Your Nose in a Book” materials - red clown noses and lapel pins, bookmarks, details on the B2BR literacy events, and materials for the Time Out for Reading event at 10 a.m. Oct. 5.

“Understanding that the Time Out for Reading program reaches so many communities along the lake shore area will have a positive impact for students and families that stay engaged in this process," said Edward Schoenfelt, executive director of the Northwest Indiana Educational Service Center and executive secretary of NIPSSC.

NWILC and B2BR volunteers are also in the process of delivering “Lit Kit Bags” to to more than 450 schools and public libraries 58 cities and towns in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties. The bags include books provided by B2BR in its effort to connect Northwest Indiana communities through reading.

This year’s B2BR books are: (children preschool through grade 4) "Tico and the Golden Wings" by Leo Lionni; (grades 5 to 8) "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang; and (high school and adults) "Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok.

Contact Dennis Gray, NWILC board member, at dwgray@hammond.k12.in.us or (219) 933.2419, ext. 1966; Dian Reyome, NWILC president, at dreyome@centier.com or (219) 755-6140, ext. 1832 or visit nwiliteracy.org or www.books2bridge.org.