With
the extreme wealth of Florida, there is also extreme poverty and
often extreme weather which only compounds problems. There are
counties in Florida, like Putnam County, where 28.9 % of
the children live in poverty--which is almost one out of every
three.
Here are some of our participating schools:
Cornerstone Learning Community After donating
$100 from their own Visiting Author Series, Cornerstone Learning
Community has inspired generosity by hosting a new student-run
fundraiser that raised over $1100.00 to get more books into more
hands! Their donation will go to providing books for a Title I
school in Gadsden County. Thank you so very much, Cornerstone!
Visit them at: www.cornerstonelc.com.
Florida City Elementary is
a Title I school in the Miami-Dade Public School System. 96%
of their students qualify for free/reduced lunch. There is no
public library or bookstore in the town. Their media specialist,
Hanna Colombey is always looking for ways to
motivate the students to read and put books in their hands. She
is looking forward to seeing her students benefit from the
program.
Florida
State University School will be participating in
the program by hosting a Write-A-Thon, the proceeds of which will
first serve Kids in Need within their own community. FSUS is a
charter school that serves kindergarten through 12th grade
and is sponsored by Florida State University. The school
was founded in 1857 and provides research and development opportunities
for educators as well as providing a laboratory for teacher education.
With strong programs in the academics, as well as award-winning
art, foreign language, and athletic programs, FSUS is a demonstration
school for exploring and refining results-based innovative teaching
techniques as well as being a professional teacher education center
where inservice and preservice teachers may observe and participate
in exemplary teacher practices; and a vehicle for the dissemination
of research findings that have proven effective.
Gretna
Elementary School is a Title I school in Gadsden County,
serving 332 students from pre-K through 5th grade. One of their
second-grade teachers, Kameelah Weeks, contacted us this winter
to sign up her young readers and writers for a free author visit
and free books. Because of a fundraising effort put forward by
the students at Cornerstone Learning Community, we are able to
fund many more students than just the second graders in Kameelah
Weeks' classroom. 89% of the students attending Gretna Elementary
School qualify for the free and reduced lunch program.
Maclay
School will be hosting a Write-A-Thon this year. Established
in 1968, Maclay School offers a college preparatory curriculum
for young people from Pre-School (ages 3 & 4) through 12th
grade. Their philosophy is to support their students
in fulfilling their potential academically, emotionally, physically
and artistically while building a meaningful spirit among students,
parents, faculty and their surrounding community. www.maclay.org
Oak
Ridge Elementary
will be receiving free books and a free author visit this year.
They are a Title I school, serving 511 students from kindergarten through
5th grade. Their administration and faculty are energetic and
dedicated to their students. They actively seek opportunities
like Kids in Need - Books in Deed for their students. 90%
of their students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch.
