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Freeport School District's
Family Literacy
Focus
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| On November 1, 1999, National Family
Literacy Day, we were reminded of the importance of literacy, not only
in the schools, but in the home. Freeport School District needed no
reminding. Freeport has one of the most comprehensive programs for
assisting "at risk" students and their families.
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Freeport provides many innovative means of academic and
social support, including:
 | tutoring families in reading - both in the school
and in their homes, and; |
| addressing the various barriers and challenges
specific to community members who speak English as a Second Language. |
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| Freeport expressed their continuous dedication to
literacy and to the improvement of the livelihood of the community by
extending Family Literacy Day into a Family Literacy Week.
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| Family Literacy Week was full
of fun and informative events coordinated by Freeport’s Family
Literacies Program, the Parent Child Home Program and the Even Start
program. Family Literacy Week was designed to bring parents
and children together to further their education and improve their life
skills. "Originally, the focus of Family Literacies was for parents
to obtain a GED and for children to receive pre-k skills," said
Director of Adult Alternative Family and Workforce Prep Education Marilyn
Stuzin. "Now, it has broadened to include job readiness skills and
employment training in order to create a fully comprehensive
program."
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| The Family Literacy Week was a great success. The
various events included video presentations, readings done by well-known
members of the community and school district, and many tools and tips for
developing literacy at home. Children were captivated by books read by
many visitors, such as Mayor Bill Glacken, Superintendent of Schools
Josephine Moffett, and PTA Council President Pat Lewis. Ms. Moffett’s
enthusiastic reading of Gilberto and the Wind by Marie Hall
Ets grabbed the attention of her young audience.
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| Parents and volunteers also had the opportunity to read
to the children in their classrooms. Parent Child Home Program Coordinator
Michele Morrison came to discuss specific reading techniques and Even
Start Coordinator Zane Williams introduced non-reading parents and parents
whose first language is not English to strategies for reading to their
youngsters. "Even Start is more than just reading," said Ms.
Williams. "It’s actually educating parents on community resources,
such as nearby computer labs and job agencies, and ensuring families learn
and help each other as a team in their own homes."
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| Freeport School District’s dedication to family
literacy far exceeds a particular day or week by its continuous focus on
assisting those in need every day of the year.
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