By Pam Barrett

I have been informed by a representative of Lake Tahoe Community College that after consulting with representatives of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, the celebration event portion of the Gift of Literacy Project, scheduled on May 8, has been cancelled.  It is not realistic to think that there can be a gathering of over 300 students, teachers and volunteers in the same room at that time.

The good news is that the college and school district still plan to purchase and distribute a new hardbound book to every first-grade student. I’m sure every household can use a new book right now! The goal is to have every first-grade teacher create a video reading one of the Gift of Literacy books.  Over the next couple of weeks the teachers will upload a video of each book onto their daily learning schedule for students to listen to before they make their book selection.  A personalized label, with the Soroptimist logo on it, will be created for each student’s book.  The teachers will adhere the labels to the books for their class so our club members will not participate in the assembly “party” this year.  Backpacks for the students will not be purchased this year so the “goodies” the club has purchased for the backpacks will not be needed.  I will store them away for use next year.

Thank you to all our members who have volunteered to help with the Gift of Literacy Project this year even though your help will not be needed.