Union School students are Star Readers

On July 18, a joyful gathering at the Hilo Public Library celebrated the successful completion of a special summer reading program by 13 Hilo Union School students. The students included Jyneth Demesa, Belinsa Flaisek, Tersan Flaisek, Jasmine Gardner, Jaysha Gardner, Joseph Gardner, Cerciyana Ponce, Gages Ponce, Imaculata Raphael, Marita Raphael, Daniella Samson, Perseis Rosas-Suenishi and Teijah Aislyn Rosas-Suenishi.

During this six-week pilot program, these students visited the library, some of them twice a week, and with the help of their volunteer reading buddies, selected enjoyable books to read.

“During these visits they forged relationships — with the stories and information found in books, with their reading buddies, and with the library itself,” said Leslie Chow, the library’s children’s librarian. “And by reading during the course of the summer, they improved their reading proficiency.”

This effort, which added extra components to the library’s summer reading program, was a collaborative effort between Hilo Union School and the Hilo Public Library.

Joining in the celebration were family members, Hilo Union School Principal Patti Andrade-Spencer and Vice Principal Rory Souza, Literacy Coordinator Esther Kottke, Acting Library Branch Manager Dale Huber, and volunteer reading buddies Danielle Todd, Elizabeth Martin, Hilo Union School librarian Lisa Leach, and Chow. Reading buddies Meredith Ing and Anuhea Segovia were not able to attend. For more information about this pilot program, please contact Chow at 933-8890.