Project focuses on reading and boosts school library

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) — Seniors in the Heritage Academy Class of 2017 will leave a Literacy Legacy to benefit not only future classes but also youngsters in the community at large. Since the beginning of the academic year, the senior class project has weekly paired Heritage 12th-graders — Reading Buddies — with elementary students at Franklin Academy to strengthen youngsters’ reading skills.
Class members read to children at pediatric clinics as well, and volunteer with Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library monthly book sales. They also raised $11,000 to enhance the Heritage Academy high school library and make a donation to the Edwina Williams Endowment for Children’s Literature.
“First and foremost, the mission of our project is to expand and help emphasize the importance and fun of literacy throughout Columbus,” said senior Reed Hairston, project publicity co-chair. The result has proven positive for both the seniors and the children they are partnered with.
“I love what I’ve seen in the community,” said project sponsor Lynn Sneed, who teaches at Heritage. She also has a son in the Class of 2017. “They sit down one-on-one and read AR books with elementary students and help them on their AR goals. I’ve loved to see how they interact.”
Reading Buddies like senior Olivia Laws like being part of the outreach. “It’s been such a privilege to be able to read to the children at Franklin and watch them improve every week,” she said.
“They have been such a blessing,” Franklin Academy Librarian Rebecca Houston said of the seniors. “They’ve really gotten the kids excited about reading. The kids love it.” She noted the friendships that have formed and a willingness on the part of some of the older students to spend extra time working with their elementary buddies, including helping with reading fairs.
Literacy Legacy fundraising began in the fall with yard sales, bake sales and appeals to local businesses. Dollars raised have made possible updates underway at the Heritage library, to include technology upgrades, supplies, tables, books, shelving and a new mural. Funds collected also allowed the class to make a $1,000 contribution to the Edwina Williams Endowment in February.
Going out to speak with businesses gave seniors experience in presenting themselves in a professional setting, Hairston noted. It also demonstrated to the class that community businesses care enough to make a difference.
Seniors like that Literacy Legacy extends beyond the boundaries of the Heritage campus. It’s also a partnership between private and public schools, Sneed said.
Senior Class President Hollis Phillips said, “My favorite thing is that we aren’t just helping students at Heritage; we help students at other schools around the community as well.”