Kekaha Early Literacy Project
From Learning to Read to Reading to Learn
The Kekaha Elementary Early Literacy Project is a bold, multi-faceted community initiative designed to help measurably increase students’ reading proficiency over three years. The community is rallying together to support students in three critical environments: at home, in school, and in our community.
At Home:
Build home libraries. K2C is committed to sending home free, high quality books throughout the year to build home libraries. Studies have shown that the more books in the home, the better a student’s ability to read and comprehend.
Increase parents who read with their keiki every day. K2C and Kekaha Elementary faculty hosted 2 parent literacy nights to reinforce the need to read to keiki 20 minutes a day, and provided free books.
At School:
Reading Buddies. Once a month, students enjoy extra reading help from community members. This program is a great way for students to connect to community members and share their love of reading. We welcome all community members to sign-up and share your love for reading with our keiki in their classrooms! Email: [email protected] for more information on how you can become our next Reading Buddies volunteer reader.
Our awesome Reading Buddies community volunteers
Building School & Classroom Libraries:
With the help of our community partners, including Kamehameha Schools, K2C provided new books to expand Kekaha Elementary School’s library as well as books to build every classroom library in the school.
Summer Reading Project.
To combat the students’ summer slide in reading ability, Keiki to Career initiated a Summer Reading Program. Every student took home 6 – 8 books to keep and read over the summer, thanks to a generous donation from Ms. Mayrose Munar, a Kekaha Elementary School Alumni.
Treasure Chests.
K2C provides every teacher with a Treasure Chest, filled with fun prizes and incentives to motivate students to improve reading scores and boost attendance. Special thanks to the Hale Uluwehi Charitable Fund and the Walmart Foundation for their generous contributions.
Teacher and Staff Mahalo Breakfast.
K2C hosted a special event, sponsored by Déjà vu Surf Hawaii. to honor and recognize our hard working teachers and staff members at Kekaha Elementary School. K2C Leadership Council contribute dozens of raffle prizes.
In the Community
Kekaha Family Literacy Night: (Community Event)
Thanks to Déjà vu Surf Hawaii, K2C hosted a literacy dinner event for the west-side community. Families were encouraged to read with their keiki and every family got to take home free books.
Reach Out and Read-Ho’ola Lahui:
In partnership with Ho’ola Lahui Hawai’i the Reach Out and Read program was established on Kauai`i’s West Side. By becoming an advocate for childhood literacy, health care professionals encourage parents to read to their children regularly and provide them with the tools to do so—a different type of “prescription” given to families during their visit. Families that visit receive a free book to take home as part of their “reading prescription”. To learn more about this nation-wide program, visit http://www.reachoutandread.org/.
Community Free Libraries.
Free Book Library Stations are placed throughout the community to provide free books and to encourage book exchanges in the community for everyone to enjoy. For more information and to learn how you can become one of these premier Community Free Library location in your community, send an email to [email protected] .
Waimea Tree Lighting Ceremony:
To help families celebrate the holidays with a love of holiday stories, K2C distributed free books at the Waimea Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Celebrating community family members are treated with one free book per child, to encourage literacy in the community. Thanks to the West Kaua`i Business and Professional Association for hosting this magical annual event. Check us out!
