By Miriam Davidow
With pride and excitement, the Richmond Jewish Coalition for Literacy (RJCL) will resume engagement with Richmond Public Schools in early 2022.
After over two decades of serving the youth in Central Virginia through mentoring and Reader’s Cafes and after almost two years away from mentoring due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are pleased to be back serving OUR kids!
After over 20 years at Swansboro Elementary School (RPS) and six years at Laburnum Elementary School (Henrico County Public Schools) we will return with a change of location in RPS as our single place of service.
As we resume mentoring, we will be assigned to Fox Elementary School (RPS) in grades 2nd and 3rd where demographics at the school have changed. This is due to redistricting, resulting in 40% of the students qualifying for Free or Reduced Lunch (an indication of poverty) and the positioning of a Communities in Schools site coordinator at the school.
Strictly following COVID protocols upon our return, mentors will work one-on-one with students to increase their reading and encourage literacy and a love of learning.
While we are awaiting our return to mentoring, we are excited to assist the schools through limited contact with a book drive (see below), books (to be assigned) recorded for classrooms and collections of items to support teachers (see below) during the continuation of challenging circumstances. We were also grateful that Meaningful Meals (Claudia Biegler and Janet Meyers) were able to treat all 75 teachers and staff members to lunch during October.
For more information about any of these initiatives, please contact Sara Rosenbaum at srosenbaum@jewishrichmond.org
The Richmond Jewish Coalition for Literacy began in 1998 as an affiliate of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy to assist in supporting the effort to insure children would have reading proficiency by the third grade. Over 100 Richmond community members through the years have supported these efforts through mentoring, tutoring and small groups/Reader’s Cafes. The RJCL is a founding member and active part of the Micah Association, a collective of faith communities together serving the youth of Richmond Public Schools.
Book Wish List – New Books can be obtained by the donor and delivered by Dec. 10 to the Federation ATTENTION Sara Rosenbaum.
Financial donations are also accepted by Dec. 10.
- Magic Tree House, Mary Pope Osborne (Any book from the series)
- Rumple Buttercup, Matthew Gray Gubler
- The Heart and the Bottle, Oliver Jeffers
- EllRay Jakes, Sally Warner, (Any book from the series)
- Jada Jones, Kelly Starling Lyons, (Any book from the series)
- I am Human: A Book of Empathy, Susan Verde
- Jabari Jumps, Gia Cornwall
- Wonder, R.J. Palacio
- Junie B. Jones, Barbara Park (Any book from the series)
- Carmela Full of Wishes, Matt de la Pena
Items to support teacher in the classroom to include:
- Hand lotion
- Fresh masks
- Snacks
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Chap Stick
- Keurig Cups
