“Olive Street Elementary School stood out to United Way because of their impressive efforts to ensure their students thrive as readers,” United Way of Tulare County Director of Development Susan Manuel said. “Last year, we awarded over $12,000 in literacy grants to K-3 teachers with one of the grants going to Jill Stokes’ classroom at Olive Street. Visiting the school on several occasions, we were able to see how administrators, staff and teachers go above and beyond when it comes to encouraging and promoting reading school-wide. Their positive literacy outcomes speak volumes.”
Olive Street fifth-grader Anise Pena was on hand for the ceremony. Last year, she started out in fourth grade slightly below grade level, but after being nervous to read harder chapters, she moved up two years in reading levels by the end of the year. Pena represented Olive Street at the Tulare County Office of Education Poetry and Prose competition and is the school ambassador for the Read Across America event. She helps other students with a reading program that takes place before school and recently made a video to promote Olive Street’s Book Fair.
Every student at Olive Street is given a reading goal every quarter, but Pena has already exceeded her reading goal as of today with the end of the quarter not until October 6.