Take a Vacation with a Book was born seven years ago, when three moms at Potowmack Elementary School realized that some students had no way to get to the library to enjoy all the great summer activities and to check out reading materials. Introduced by Barb Jones, Debbie Hawk and Dawn Meyer, the program originally offered local parents as reading buddies. Helen Lin soon joined the crew, and the organizers put their heads together to determine why this sorely needed program was just not hitting the mark. Enter middle school and high school students as reading buddies for a match made in heaven. “The young children look up to the teens as mentors and role models,” explains Helen, “and some of the kids have the same buddies year after year.” This type of continuity really helps the developing readers. And since the reading buddies are trained by Potowmack Librarian Michele Copeland to use sound reading techniques, the time at the library has real value. Children read one-on-one with a buddy, attend the library program dujour, eat a snack or lunch, and select books to read during the week. A bus from the Fields at Cascades to the library and back again is provided, making the library more accessible than these kids ever imagined.
Take a Vacation with a Book is funded by the Loudoun Education Foundation (LEF), a non-profit foundation established to seek private funding and resources which are used to strengthen the quality of the Loudoun County Public School system beyond that which public funds can accomplish. The bus transportation that is so crucial to the success of the program is provided by Loudoun County Public Schools. Another very important element of the equation is the dedicated team of volunteers that makes it all work.
Current organizers Helen Lin and Judy Schmid are looking for more than 40 middle and high school volunteers to buddy up with their 40 readers this year. This requires a commitment of 3.5 hours per week for a period of 5 weeks, from 12:45-4:15 on June 30, July 7, July 13, July 20, and July 28. Since many teens already have their family plans in place for the summer, vacations will gladly be accommodated. Members of the Key Club and other organizations should check with their faculty advisors to determine whether volunteer credit will be given, and how to record it. The training date for volunteers will be Friday, June 26 at 1 p.m. in the library at Potowmack Elementary School. Please email Helen at Helen.Chang@loudoun.k12.va.us or Judy at Judy.Schmid@loudoun.k12.va.us to express interest in volunteering. They are both Parent Liaisons at Potowmack Elementary School, and you may call them at 571 434-3270.
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