News Releases

January 15, 2010
For Immediate Release
For additional information: 
Barbara Kerr, APR
Executive Director of
Communications and Marketing

Telephone: 360-992-2921
Email: bkerr@clark.edu

 

It's "Seuss-a-Palozza" Time at Clark College!

The gift of a book can foster the love of reading for kindergarteners 
at Vancouver’s Fruit Valley Elementary School

 

Seuss-a-Palooza posterVANCOUVER, Wash. – Whether you like green eggs and ham or prefer that fabulous cat in the hat, you can make a difference in a child’s life by taking part in “Seuss-a-Palooza Book Drive” in support of 2010 Read Across America Day. 

Clark College’s Service Learning Program and the Clark College Bookstore are hoping to sell enough of “The Cat in the Hat”books by Dr. Seuss to provide a copy for each kindergartener at Vancouver’s Fruit Valley Elementary School – 60 books in all -- for Read Across America Day on Tuesday, March 2.  Read Across America Day commemorates the birthday of author Theodor Seuss Geisel – better known as Dr. Seuss.

Fruit Valley Elementary school officials and teachers were asked to select a Dr. Seuss book for their kindergarteners to receive.  They chose the bilingual edition (English/Spanish) of “The Cat in the Hat.”  Copies of the book will be available for purchase and donation at the Clark College Bookstore from Feb. 8-19 for $7.99 each.  Each book will have a nameplate for the donor's name. 

The Clark College Bookstore is located in Gaiser Hall on the northern end of Clark’s main campus. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.

Maps and driving directions are available at www.clark.edu/maps.  Information about the bookstore is available at www.clarkbookstore.com.

According to principal Debra Elliott, “Eighty-seven percent of Fruit Valley students qualify for free and reduced-cost lunches.  Their families struggle from week to week.  I know that our students will be happy and proud that someone thought they were so special that they wanted to buy a book for them.” 

Marti Earhart of the Clark College Bookstore added, "Many of the kindergarteners at Fruit Valley Elementary miss the opportunity of ‘lap time’ reading with parents because they don’t have books at home. We hope the gift of an exciting book creates that special connection children can have with their parents through reading."

Clark College’s Service Learning Program is partnering with Fruit Valley, Harney, and Washington Elementary Schools to establish projects that support learning through the Partnership for Service in Schools Project. The three schools were each sent an application, due in December, to participate in the book drive.  A selection committee selected Fruit Valley Elementary School based on need and how the gift of 60 books could benefit students.

On Read Across America Day, dozens of volunteers from Clark College's Service Learning department will read books by Dr. Seuss to students at Fruit Valley, Harney Elementary, and Washington Elementary Schools in Vancouver.  Last year, Washington Elementary School students received books purchased by donors at the Clark College Bookstore.

For additional information, please contact Marti Earhart at the Clark College Bookstore at 360-992-2261.

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