Lamar Elementary kicks off Read and Feed after-school program
Volunteers meet with students after school twice a week at Lamar Elementary for the Read and Feed program, which gives students a chance to complete schoolwork and enjoy snacks.
Students at Lamar Elementary School are getting a chance for extra help from teachers and community volunteers through Read and Feed, an after-school program that offers school work assistance and a snack.
Sue Cataen-Ingram, lead social worker for Darlington County School District, helps Mareia study schoolwork during the Read and Feed program at Lamar Elementary School.
Gay Jeffords, a reading interventionist at Lamar Elementary, and Sue Cataen-Ingram, Darlington County School District’s lead social worker, launched the program Feb. 1. Students attend to read books, complete homework assignments and enjoy some food. Other volunteers from Lamar Elementary and from outside of the school have made the program an early success.
“Our vision is for them to come two times a week, where we will read to them and they can get help with homework,” Jeffords said. “There will be a snack for the kids. They can also get the chance to take a book home with them.”
Emily Harris, a first grade teacher at Lamar Elementary School, reads a book with Halo, left, and Derrick during the Read and Feed program at the school.
Read and Feed is funded through a $1,000 grant from Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, which is administered by Carolina’s Kids Inc. Each program lasts about an hour. The students in attendance are treated to a snack before breaking out the pencils and paper to complete any homework assignments due the following day. Cataen-Ingram, Jeffords and the volunteers spread out across the room to help students in whatever ways they can.
Ikeya works on her math homework after school while participating in the Read and Feed program at Lamar Elementary School.
When homework is complete, each student chooses and reads a short book to one of the volunteers. Students earn the chance to take the book home to their families by completing the reading assignments.
Read and Feed can always use volunteers, Jeffords said. Should anyone be interested in helping out, she asked that they call the main office at 843-326-7575.
For more information about academic programs in the Darlington County School District, please visit www.darlington.k12.sc.us. For more information about Carolina’s Kids, please visit www.carolinas-kids.org.
