‘Lights On Literacy After School’ program at Eunice Elementary

Eunice Elementary celebrated the 16th annual Lights on After School. The program was held at Eunice Elementary on Oct. 22 inside the school’s cafeteria.
The theme of this year’s program was “Lights on Literacy AfterSchool.
Lights on After School is the only nationwide event celebrating Afterschool. The effort has become a hallmark of Afterschool movement and generates media coverage across the country each year.
The program this year highlighted, emphasized and stressed the importance of reading.
Special guests during the program were Eunice High cheerleaders, Ward 2 City Councilwoman Germaine Simpson, and program speaker was Mary Ellen Donatto, St. Landry Parish
School Board member.
Teachers for the program are LaRhonda Simpson and Michelle Stelly. This year a collection of children books were collected and donated from the community, individuals, students, and plans are to donate the books to local children and womens shelters.
The literacy program involves 35 students, in third and fourth-grades.
As part of the program, some students were dressed as their favorite book character, held their book in hand, and presented a brief summary of the book.
Guest speaker Donatto spoke to students and parents in attendance about the importance of reading and gave tips on how to help your child read.
Helpful tips on how to help your child with reading: Point to each word on the page as you read; Read the title and ask your child to make predictions; take picture walks; Model fluency while reading; ask your child questions before reading every book connect reading and writing.
Donatto added, “This program is not just an after school tutoring program. It’s about learning, reading, comprehensive actitivities, and much more. Students learn.”