The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore
“School to Home Reading Program”
 
Winner of the 2018 Rotary International Literacy Award!
 
The old story book ending  “and they all lived happily after”
… began with a child learning to read!
 
PURPOSE:  “The School to Home Reading Program” was initiated in 2011 in memory of Gary Landry, a founding member of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore, to help increase literacy levels; build confidence; encourage family involvement and instill the joy of reading at an early age with students in our local elementary schools.
 
AN OVERVIEW:  Our Club maintains this Program each year by funding the purchase of “leveled” reading books for students in St. Catharines; as well as recruiting, training & scheduling volunteers from Niagara College and Brock University (a win-win as mature students mentor young ones, while also receiving community hours and references) as well as retired teachers, librarians and other interested and committed community members (For further information on volunteering, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page).
 
HOW IT WORKS: Students from grades 2 to 5 read from these "leveled books" to the volunteers at their schools, who encourages & critiques as they do so. The student then takes a book home to read to their family. The process repeats weekly from October to April.  Each step is designed to elevate the Students’ reading level and confidence.  In June, we honour a girl & boy in each School with either the E.P. Flegg or the Vic Kovacevich Most Improved Reader Award, presenting them with a Rotary medallion and a $50 gift certificate courtesy of The Book Outlet. Each Student also has their name permanently engraved on a Rotary plaque, proudly displayed at each school.
 
To date, our Club has donated over $66,500.00 for the purchase of leveled reading books for St. Catharines elementary schools, monies raised through our Annual Golf Tournament in July and our Cheers to Literacy Lottery held in September!
 
Become a Reading Mentor and make a difference in a Child’s life.  Volunteer at a school of your choice weekly or monthly. For more information on volunteering or supporting our Golf and Lottery fundraising activities towards this program:
 
 

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Rotary International Literacy Award
LITRAG Chair, PDG Carolyn Johnson  presents our Club (Volunteer John Ellison,  President Ellen Wodchis & Literacy Committee Co-Chair  Milica Kovacevich) with the LITRAG (Literacy International Rotarian Action Group) “2018 International Literacy Award.” The School to Home Reading Program competed against Rotary Clubs in 12 Countries, winning $500.00 U.S. to assist in funding the Program.
 
 Volunteer Thank You Dinner.  
Program Coordinator Sarah Andrews introduced our Reading Mentors