SBCSS News and Press Releases

Grapeland Elementary To Hold Reading Buddies Closing Ceremony

2009-05-12

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Grapeland Elementary School will hold a closing and recognition ceremony for its Reading Buddies volunteers on May 15 at 9 a.m. San Bernardino County Superintendent Gary Thomas, Principal Jeff Sipos, members of the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce and other officials will lead the closing ceremonies to acknowledge the volunteers' efforts throughout the year in a special recognition by their adopted classrooms.

The Reading Buddies literacy program, which is active in eight county districts, allows business professionals and community members to adopt a class and read to its students once a month. Grapeland's program is a collaborative effort by the Etiwanda School District, Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.

"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," Thomas said.

Principal Sipos said Reading Buddies is popular with his students and teachers. "It is the most generous and good-natured program I've seen. The spirit of volunteerism and reading to kids is a great thing that will never go away. Two thumbs up!" he said.

Grapeland is located at 7171 Etiwanda Ave. To obtain more information about the program or to volunteer to be a reader for next year, contact Roberta Copper at Grapeland at (909) 463-7026 or Linda Miranda with County Schools at (909) 476-2214.