Collaboration to fund cutting-edge reading program for elementary schools
Originally posted on AnchorNews.org
LAKEVILLE — Kerry Peroni, president of The S.E.A.L. Foundation, is pleased to announce that Analog Devices Foundation, BayCoast Bank, The Carney Family Charitable Foundation, The Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, and the Diocese of Fall River have joined together to provide funding for Lexia® Core5® software to be integrated into seven area elementary schools. The funding will also include a Lexia®-trained teacher to be on-site at each school to support teachers, examine student data, and provide guidance on how to help students learn to love reading. The S.E.A.L. Foundation’s goal is to increase overall reading levels by the end of the first year using the Lexia® Core5® Supplemental Reading Program.
Designed for students of all abilities from Pre-K to grade five, Core5® is a research-proven, technology-based program that accelerates the development of fundamental reading skills by providing explicit, systematic instruction through personalized learning paths in phonemic awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Throughout the academic year, individual progress is tracked for each student, in addition to providing supplemental materials to boost reading skills or self-paced enrichment units for those on grade level or above. The progress of students will be charted for a three-year period beginning this academic year. School leaders, teachers and parents can realize literacy improvements through real-time charts that track what each student has mastered, skills they are working on, and which fundamentals require reinforcement.
The seven schools from the Diocese of Fall River involved in this three-year initiative are: Espirito Santo Parochial School, Holy Name School, Holy Trinity School, St. Michael School, and St. Stanislaus School, all located in Fall River. In New Bedford, All Saints Catholic School and Holy Family-Holy Name School will also participate.
Deacon Peter Schutzler, principal of Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford commented, “The integration of the Core5® technology into our school is a game-changer when it comes to our ability to identify individual student progress in reading. This tool is unique in that it provides us the ability to view reading status by student, by class, or by school without ever having to stop teaching to give a test. We know at every point in time the skills each student has mastered and those that need reinforcing.”
According to Brenda Gagnon, principal of Holy Trinity School of Fall River, “Research shows that solid reading skills are crucial to a student’s success in school and career. Helping a student ‘make that critical shift from learning to read to reading to learn’ can make all the difference in how a child perceives reading and school in general. The doors of learning are opened wide when a child realizes the love of reading.”
Daniel S. Roy, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Fall River, added, “We value our partnership with the S.E.A.L. Foundation and recognize the potential impact of Core5®. The implementation of this program into our schools ensures state-of-the-art tools are available to help our students thrive and succeed. We are so encouraged by the commitment of both organizations and how it benefits students and families who want the small, family environment of a Catholic school for their child who may have learning differences or challenges.”
The S.E.A.L. Foundation’s mission is to create and fund educational and social opportunities in both non-public and public schools and camp settings for students who learn differently in order to ensure they maximize their potential.
The S.E.A.L. Foundation funds special education services, staff development, advocacy support and technical assistance to a broad community of non-public and public schools and programs that share and honor learners. For more information about the S.E.A.L. Foundation, please go to www.thesealfoundation.org.