Lions Club introduces Read Bears Program at Mapleton
The Lions Club of Blackall Range is bringing a new reading initiative to Mapleton State School with the introduction of the Read Bears program.
The program aims to enhance children’s reading skills by encouraging them to read to their bears each night.
On April 22, marking the start of term 2, Year One students received special presentation boxes containing a bear, a book, and an information sheet.
The Read Bears program was developed by Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre (HBNC) in 2019, and is based on similar programs run in Europe and Canada. Blackall Range Lions Club is partnering with HBNC to bring Read Bears to our area. It is currently operating in 13 schools across the Wide Bay region.
The Lions Club of Blackall Range, through their dedicated knitting group, has meticulously crafted bears to meet the program’s specifications.
Project Leader Helen Smith expressed enthusiasm about the initiative’s potential impact on local students’ literacy.
“Schools in the Hervey Bay area have reported significant improvements in Year One reading levels since adopting the Read Bears program,” said Helen. “We are excited to bring this initiative to Mapleton State School and hope to see similar positive outcomes.”
Montville State School has also embraced the program, with students set to receive their bears in term 4.
