Books are packed, supplies are ready, and excitement is in the air because BeAR is heading back to school.
The annual Be A Reader Literacy Project’s kickoff luncheon was a wonderful success, bringing together familiar faces, brand new mentors, lots of laughter and, of course, plenty of books. Held on Thursday, October 8 at the Simon Family JCC, the event aims to get everything ready for another year of reading, mentoring, and making a difference in the lives of BeARs’ second graders.
The week following the luncheon, BeAR mentors headed into schools across Norfolk and Virginia Beach to meet their students and begin another fantastic year together. Some mentors are returning to schools they have loved for years, while others are new BeARs about to discover how this program is so special.
There is nothing quite like that first meeting with a BeAR student – sitting down together, opening a book, and starting to get to know one another. Before long, that one hour a week becomes something both the student and the mentor look forward to.
Of course, mentors are there to read and help students become stronger, more confident readers. But BeAR has always been about so much more. It is about showing up. It is about encouraging a child, celebrating the little victories, and giving them an hour each week when they know someone is there just for them.
A few more BeAR mentors are still needed. In fact, a critical need exists for mentors at College Park Elementary in Virginia Beach and Suburban Park and Willard Elementary in Norfolk. So, for anyone who has ever considered joining BeAR, this is the perfect time. No teaching experience is necessary, just a love of children, a little patience, and one hour a week.
It is going to be a great year. The books are ready. The BeARs are ready. And it’s time to go roaring into school!
To become a BeAR mentor, contact Robin Ford, BeAR coordinator, at 757-321-2304 or rford@ujft.org.