Spring is the season for creativity and growth - and I am delighted to share R2S news of exciting partnerships, structural re-visions and expanding programs. 
   Check out our updated Volunteer web page. Opportunities abound! 






Fresh Approaches
R2S reading coaches have worked with Hall Fletcher Elementary School students since 2013. But when we were asked to train all the HF volunteer literacy coaches under the R2S umbrella, we couldn't refuse. It's a win-win situation: Our Program Director, Julie Thomas, has amped up the R2S Reading Buddy program with the integration of rhyming, reading comprehension and sight words. We are training the Hall Fletcher volunteers in R2S Reading Buddy methods and standards, and assuring an across-the-board high level of literacy intervention.
 
New Friends
We welcome many new members of the R2S family of volunteers: A new group of Reading Coaches graduated from our Intensive Training just a few short weeks ago (after more snow day delays than anyone wants to count!) and we've conducted 3 Reading Buddy classes. We are so grateful for each and every volunteer who gives of his and her time to advance literacy among struggling students. Thank you, all.Our newest reading coaches, pictured here with Julie Thomas, Program Director and Isaac Coleman, Chairman.We are also delighted to share news of 4 new members of our leadership team. Joining our Board of Directors are Nancy Waldrop and Ile Adaramola. Our newly-formed Advisory Council is currently staffed by Elinor Earle and Tiece Ruffin. Thank you for your service to our organization and the Asheville community.Asheville Preschool: Literacy Partner

Asheville Preschool is a valued resource to the families within our community. So I am proud to let you know that Read to Succeed and Asheville Preschool are exploring a partnership during the 2015-2016 school year. We will adapt our tutoring methods to work with 3 to 5 year old children, and help give them a jump start before Kindergarten. We're looking forward to working together next year.Summer Camp 2015

Our literacy "boot camp" was such a success last summer that we are enrolling students again for a week of traditional camp activities and literacy prep. During summer, low income students typically lose about 2.5 months of reading achievement (much more than middle class students.) But last summer our R2S students lost no ground, and some even increased their reading proficiency. (We know this from End-of-Year and Beginning-of-Year standardized tests.) While we can't assume all credit for these results, we know that Read to Succeed played a part in our students' performance.
Supporters like YOU!

All of these programs and partnerships, training and expansion cost money. It's true that "you get what you pay for." At Read to Succeed we spend carefully, and always while keeping our eyes on the prize of helping children from impoverished and low-literacy households reach grade level reading standards by the end of third grade.

Won't you help us continue this important work? Click the button to contribute via Paypal or check.Donate Now!It is always a pleasure to connect with our friends. Thank you for being there for Read to Succeed and for the children in our community.Pat Bastian
Executive Director/Administrator
Read to Succeed Asheville
And a BIG thank you to our community supporters - we couldn't do it without you!
        

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