Smiles and excitement abounded at Alexandria’s Cora Kelly and Jefferson Houston elementary schools this week, as the Alexandria Aces helped the Giving Circle and Wright to Read distribute all those summer reading packs so many of you contributed to during our book drive and Baskets for Books events with Wright to Read this spring.

Compared with children from middle-income families, children from lower income families can finish a summer vacation up to three months
behind in reading comprehension. The results are cumulative and by the end of elementary school, low-income kids can be almost three years behind better-off kids.

As student-athletes, the Alexandria Aces were the perfect role models to convey how important reading is to success in life. Jefferson Houston’s librarian, Lagina Gross stated, “It’s so important for kids to hear from members of the community that reading is important. I can say it all day long, but they need to hear it from a wide range of people.” Indeed, one boy asked the Aces what it was like to “have to study while playing sports,” opening a dialogue on the importance of developing good habits of reading and studying early in life.

Over 1,200 Summer Reading Packs and some 6,000 books were distributed at the two schools. So, if you see a child with a yellow backpack with a big “A” on it this summer, ask them what they’re reading!

 

 

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