'Let's Read!' a success at Maie Ellis

“Let’s Read!” kicked off its second year on Friday, October 14, and occurred again on Friday, November 18, at Maie Ellis School. The monthly program pairs community leaders with the school’s first grade beginning readers. The volunteering adults are “listeners” who give of their time so young readers can proudly read books they have mastered.

Learning to read is work, requiring practice and perseverance, practice and persistence. Principal Charmian Francis and first grade teacher Cynthia Greer came up with the idea of bringing Fallbrook adults to the school to encourage and emotionally support the efforts of the 140-plus first-graders. October and November volunteers included Dr. Janice Schultz, FUESD assistant superintendent; Maribel Guadarrame, parent volunteer; Charmian Francis, principal; Karen Granoff, parent volunteer; Lt. Grant Burnett, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; Deputy Cliff Johnson, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; Nancy Price, former Fallbrook Hospital gift shop director; John Greer, sales; Mary Moore, community volunteer; Kara Allegro, FUESD purchasing agent; Stephenie Martinez, Maie Ellis lead teacher; Sara Ingalls, FUESD media manager; and several Private First Class Marines from Camp Pendleton.

“Let’s Read!” will happen again on Friday, December 9. If you would like to give 30 minutes of your time to the first grade students at Maie Ellis, please contact Mrs. Greer at (760) 731-4313 for more information.