SBCSS News and Press Releases

Endeavour School In Victorville To Start Reading Buddies Program

2008-09-23

VICTORVILLE - The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, in partnership with the Victor Elementary School District and the Victor Valley Chamber Foundation, will kick off its Reading Buddies Program at Endeavour School on Sept. 26. The volunteer reading program calls on business, civic, community and education leaders to promote the importance of reading by committing to read to students once a month.

San Bernardino County Superintendent Gary Thomas, Endeavour School Principal Renee Thomas, Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Spears and other community leaders will lead a group of volunteers into classrooms of first-graders to read a book.

"The foundation of a good education is the ability to read. It is vital we develop good reading skills in all our students so that they are able to achieve academically and become life-long learners," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said.

The public-private partnership supported by local chambers, service organizations and other businesses has been created and expanded countywide to include East Valley, West End and High Desert school districts, including Colton Joint Unified, Chino Valley Unified, Central, Etiwanda, Ontario-Montclair, San Bernardino City Unified and Victor Elementary.

"The Reading Buddies volunteer program is valuable in that it will bring volunteers together with students and teachers to promote literacy and emphasize the importance of reading. Students become aware through community volunteers that reading is important beyond the classroom," Principal Thomas said. "Student achievement in reading is a high priority at Endeavour, and this volunteer effort will provide additional opportunities to promote success in this area for our students."

The Endeavour School program will kick off with a reading in the cafeteria at 8:45 a.m. All future reading days will be held on the last Monday of the month at 8:45 a.m.

The school is located at 12403 Ridgecrest Road in Victorville. Business or community members who would like to join the voluntary reading program should contact Lisa De La Cruz at the Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce at (760) 245-6506 or Linda Miranda with the County Schools office at (909) 476-2214.