HOPE – Hope Public Schools students in grade 5-12 will have to opportunity to begin building a personal library of books through a $100,000 grant awarded the HPS.
HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart said the grant is a step toward realizing one of the district’s goals.
“I am proud of and grateful for the work Mrs. Narlesky and her team did to receive this grant,” Dr. Hart said. “It is a testament to the commitment she has to improving literacy rates in our district and community. The resources made available by this grant contribute to our goal of making grade level literacy a reality.”
The Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant through the Successful Outcomes for Arkansas Readers program is the result of U. S. Department of Education funding through the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education of the Arkansas Department of Education.
Students at Beryl Henry Elementary School, Hope Academy of Public Service, and Yerger Middle School will benefit through a Book of the Quarter program where each student receives a book for class discussion and journal commentary.
“Book Talk” videos will also be produced by students highlighting each book.
“Receiving the CLSD-SOAR grant offers HPSD students a chance to broaden their reading horizons,” Carla Narlesky, HPS School Improvement Specialist/Director of Curriculum Instruction, said. “Through this grant, students are able to read of variety of genres and learn from others about how they relate to the materials read.”
Hope High School students will be included in the grant benefits through a Reader’s Club, designed to promote student engagement in reading.
HHS students will produce journal commentary during English classes regarding books they have chosen to read; and, the HHS EAST Lab will produce “Book Talk” videos for use on HHS social media.
“It is exciting that we can buy books for every student at Hope High School and they get to start their own library,” HHS Principal Bill Hoglund said. “The best part is we get to buy books students want to read and keep. A love of reading kindled in teenage years can, should, and will lead to a richer life. I wish I had started at that age.”