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Show WASATCH COUNTY COURIER August 17, 1999 Local Group Making Literacy Its Top Priority | Jean Croasmun, Lifestyle Editor 2 Zach Muir, sophomore, and his mother, Susan Muir, wade through the pile of paperwork at Wasatch High school’s registration. | The Wasatch Community Literacy Team put their message on brightly-colored balloons to gain public awareness. | Over 12,000 of Utah’s fourth-graders scored below their grade level in reading in 1997. ‘To correct this problem, last However, 53 fourth-graders Hicken’s = group doesn’t approve. To promote Community literacy,’ the Literacy Team Wasatch handed out over 800 balloons at the Wasatch County Fair parade. Other goals of the Community Literacy Team include their community. Locally, the Wasatch Community Literacy Team was born. encouraging Over the past year, the Wasatch Community Literacy Team has been. on a fact-finding hunt. While the goal of is to encourage recently that of al Utah read less than twice a week. year, Utah’s Governor Mike -Leavitt invited area business, religious and political leaders to join in a year-long program promoting literacy issues within the organization it. was reported percent all parents to read to the their children, to encourage the development of a county/arts center, and to increase the importance of literacy within the Wasatch County community. reading and ultimately literacy, the group, under the direction of co-chairs Alice Hicken and Debra Gardner, realizes that there is much to be done.-and little time to do it. According to Hicken, the last thing Ty ter Wasatch Community Literacy Team =~ wants to do is duplicate other existing ~ ‘efforts-repetitive efforts do nothing more than take up valuable time. And that’s someone no one in the organization wants to waste. Instead, Hicken and her team have con- Kyla Steites, senior, talks to Sue Loertscher about registering little sister, Jenny Steites, sophomore. centrated on building awareness and organizing these efforts so they can be used effectively. -. Currently, Wasatch County’s elementary students sit just a tad under the state averages for reading, according to 1998 figures compiled by the state. The Wasatch Community. Literacy Team - wants that numberto goup;The more a child reads, the easier read- ne gee s ing .and- ultimately learning becomes. oS te ate Soccer--Pine View vs. Wasatch High varsity 4:00 p.m., JV 5:30 Night school - writing lab room 21_ °3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Thursday, August 19 Wasatch Middle School Sixth grade orientation Monday; August Schedule change day, Wasatch High School» Tuesday, August 24 . ~ School-beginsat Wasatch High School , Tuesday, August 24 Back-to-school night at Midway Elementary Friday, August 20 Back-to-school night J. R. Smith Elementary School 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Waiting in line is the most taxing part of registration for the upcoming school year, although some students might say early morning classes caus more pain. : Every child is encouraged to read. te Tuesday, August 17 ~ 2 Monday, August 23 School begins (all but high school) _ August 23 - 27 Book Fair, J. R. Smith Elementary School SEP Conferences, J. R. Smith Elementary School ‘ . ’ = 3 |
