South Sound
In an effort to increase the number of children entering school prepared to learn, read and succeed, the South Sound Reading Foundation exists to ensure that every child is read with 20 minutes a day starting at birth. Reading just 20 minutes a day promotes healthy brain development, family bonding and success in school.
News and Events
READERS ARE LEADERS
April 11, 7:30-9:00, ViewPoint at West Bay Marina.
Featuring “What was the Book that Got YOU Hooked?” We are asking community leaders and policy makers to tell us about the book that got them hooked. You know… the book that was so captivating it propelled into the world of books and reading?
Also featuring the Shirlee Lehnis Literacy Champion Award for Youth and the Lois Asay Literacy Champion Award for Adults. These awards go to the youth and adult in our community who have done something extraordinary to promote literacy.
We hope you will join us in our attempts to promote literacy and school readiness by attending this event. If you can’t make it we always accept donations. All funds help us provide our important literacy programming.
To register visit http://readersleaders.com/signup.html, or contact read2me@nthurston.k12.wa.us, 360 412 4499.
Long time volunteer Lois Asay's memorial service on March 3rd.
Join the South Sound Reading Foundation and honor the memory of friend, volunteer and educator extraordinaire, Lois Asay. Her memorial service will be held at the Hands on Children's Museum, Sunday, March 3rd beginning at 6:30. Here is her obituary from February 28th's Olympian : | |
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On February 6th, 2013 the world became a much sadder place when the angels who had been looking after one of their own for so long welcomed Lois Jean Asay into their fold. Lois was born in Montoursville Pennsylvania on October 16, 1944. Following high school she attended Lock Haven State College, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in education. In August of 1970 she married Army Lieutenant John G. "Skip" Asay, and for the next few years, Lois traveled to various military posts across the county, all the while finding teaching jobs and enjoying meeting new people and sharing new experiences. Lois and Skip finally settled in Washington State. After 36 years as a professional educator, School Teacher, Title I Reading Specialist, Special Education Teacher, Special Education Coordinator, and Elementary School Principal at Carter Lake Elementary School in the Clover Park School District and Olympic View in the North Thurston School District- Lois retired in 2004. Following her retirement, she worked as a student teacher supervisor for the University of Washington, and volunteered for organizations supporting child learning and welfare. She also loved traveling, canning fruits and vegetables with her friends, cooking, golf, skiing, making her own Christmas cards, or simply walking the beach at her home. Lois truly had a passion for life and all the wonder in it. Love of children, friends, and education itself were the engines that drove her, but she found particular joy and fulfillment in helping children learn, mentoring teachers, and conducting "Storytime" readings and handing out free books to children as a volunteer for the South Sound Reading Foundation. Lois was predeceased by her parents, Curtis and Hattie Wheeland, and her brother Charles Rayhorn, all of Montoursville, PA. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Skip; her sisters Helen Martin and Penny Burgoyne; brother Scott Wheeland; dozens of extraordinary caring and supportive friends; and hundreds of children who experienced her kindness, patience, and talents as a gifted educator. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2013 in the new Children's Museum, 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia, WA. Friends will be received at the Museum from 6:30 p.m. until the time of service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the South Sound Reading Foundation 305 College Street NE, Lacey, WA 98516, phone (360) 412-4499. To read Lois's full obituary please visit www.millsandmillsfunerals.com.
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Do you know a Literacy Champion?
The award will be presented at the Reading Foundation’s annual Readers are Leaders breakfast on Thursday, April 11th.
If you would like to nominate an individual or group, please submit a paragraph detailing why you feel they should receive the award.
Nominations must be submitted to the South Sound Reading Foundation by Friday, March 22nd, at 5:00 pm. Please forward questions and nominations to: jwilliamson-forster@nthurston.k12.wa.us. Thank you.
BARNES & NOBLE, GIVING THE GIFT OF LITERACY
Barnes and Noble collected over 2300 books during its annual Holiday Book Drive. The donated books will go to the South Sound Reading Foundation who will distribute the books to homeless, hungry and Title 1 children, youth and families in the region. Young adult books will go to South Sound High School’s library.
“We are so fortunate to have such a great community partner in our region and to have had so many people support the drive. It is truly amazing!” says South Sound Reading Foundation Director, Jennifer Forster.
In an effort to increase the number of children prepared to read and succeed, the South Sound Reading Foundation exists to ensure that every child is read with or is reading for at least 20 minutes each day. Reading just 20 minutes a day facilitates the healthy brain development, family bonding, and school readiness all children need to succeed.
“Many of the children we serve do not have books of their own,” says Forster. “When you give a book to such a child, you are giving them the gift of literacy.”
For more information visit www.readingfoundation.org/southsound.
11th Annual Thanks for Giving Book Drive Hosted by the Valley Athletic Club
The Valley Athletic Club is hosting its 11th annual “Thanks for Giving” Children’s Book Drive during the Thanksgiving Holidays. They will collect new and gently-used children’s books from November 18th through November 24th. Donated books go to the South Sound Reading Foundation who will distribute the books to low-income and at-risk children and youth. “Fall is a hard time for us. We have a huge demand for free books and literacy programming” says Reading Foundation director Jennifer Forster. “The Valley is hosting this drive so we can address this need. They are fantastic community partners!”
“We have so many wonderful families at The Valley who value reading and want to support the community,” says Ellie Burelson with The Valley Athletic Club’s Community Relations, which has been serving the community for more than 30 years.
Usborne Books is also hosting a Book Fair at The Valley during the same week to support the Reading Foundation.
The mission of the South Sound Reading Foundation is to ensure that every child is read to at least 20 minutes a day starting at birth. For more information on the Foundation call (360) 412-4499, e-mail read2me@nthurston.k12.wa.us
