Day of literacy - "leap into literacy"
Additional Information
In partnership with the Tempe Elementary and Kyrene School Districts, the City of Tempe- AARP Experience Corps, Read-On Tempe, the Kiwanis Club of Tempe (KCOT) and the other Tempe-based Kiwanis clubs (Friendship Village, Nuevo & Sunrise), the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee, the Kiwanis Club of Casa Grande, the Key Clubs from Compadre and Tempe High School and the Kiwanis CKI club of ASU are sponsoring the 2ndAnnual Day of Literacy event for children in grades Kindergarten-5th grades at Aguilar Elementary School at 5800 S Forest Ave (just east of Kiwanis Park) on Saturday, February 29th from 9:00 to 11:30 AM. Children must be accompanied by adults. There will not be a charge to attend the event.
The purpose of the event is to get kids excited about reading. Literacy has been determined as a top priority for the children of the City of Tempe based on a recent community needs assessment lead by KCOT President Linda Spears. It is also one of the top priorities for Kiwanis International whose mission is to “serve the children of the world.”
The theme of this year’s event is “Leap into Literacy”, for two reasons: 1) the event is on the leap year date of February 29th and 2) it’s the kickoff of Read Across America, a nationwide event celebrating literacy and the birthday of Dr. Seuss on Monday, March 2nd. Superintendent of Tempe Elementary School District, Chris Busch, requested this date to build the momentum for Read Across America in the Tempe Community. We believe the love of reading is truly an enabler for the future success of our children and we simply cannot do enough to strongly promote literacy.
This year’s event will have a Dr Seuss themed bounce house, local entertainer Paul Whitney who reads and sings to children in the Valley, a drawing for 5 pizza dinners, drinks and tokens at Peter Piper Pizza, three signed books from local author Carol Hageman, two gift cards from Changing Hands Book store, a literacy package of “goodies” from Read-On Tempe, and courtesy of Chandler Fashion Square Microsoft Store, a Surface Go Computer. To be eligible for the drawing and enter the bounce house, participants will need to complete their “passport” of literacy activities of readings and games. All participants will also receive a free book of their choosing. Refreshments will be provided and will include “literacy cookies”.
The first 250 participants will receive a coupon for a free pizza from Peter Piper Pizza. In addition to aforementioned sponsors other event sponsors are ADP, who generously donated books and volunteers, Be.Dream.Do., sponsor of the bounce house, and Landings Credit Union, sponsor of the refreshments.