04/24/12 The Marshall County Reading Council held its Spring Banquet on April 19th at Pretty Lake United Methodist Church. Ashton Morrow from Plymouth High School’s Speech and Debate Team performed several selections. In addition, Brooke Busse from Washington Elementary presented information about Performance Based Learning which is being tested at Washington this year.
Elections were held for 2012-13 officers who include Teri Zechie l- President; Shelly Johnson-President Elect; Carol Jackson-Secretary; Cyndy Mckenzie – Treasurer; Mary Jackson-Membership; Dianne Himes – Building Representative Coordinator; Jenny Mevis – Newsletter; Natasha Riewoldt – Books for Babies chairperson.
The final event of the evening was the awarding of the Celebrate Literacy Awards. These awards are made to an individual or group who has promoted literacy in their community. Roxie Ruud nominated several volunteers in her first grade classroom at Menominee Elementary. The first winner was Heidi Watson who helped children read words or books, count or finish writing assignments. Watson’s job with Marshall – Starke Development Center led her to recommend additional volunteers from Marshall – Starke. These individual are Gilbert Harrington and Melissa Roach who listen to students read in the 220 Book Program or help students with vocabulary and fluency. Ruud celebrated these volunteers by stating they make her job much easier and work really well with her students. Ruud credits these volunteers with her students’ success at reading.
(Photo: from the left-Melissa Roach, Roxie Ruud, Heidi Watson, Gilbert Harrington and Celebrate Literacy chairperson Teri Zechiel)
The second Celebrate Literacy Award was presented to the Argos Lions Club for their faithful financial support for the annual Young Authors’ Conference. Accepting the award from Teri Zechiel on behalf of the Argos Lions is Monty Peden, long-time member of the group.
The final Celebrate Literacy Award was made to Mary Jo Craig. Formerly school librarian at Lincoln Junior High, Craig worked in that position for twenty years. During her years as librarian, Mary J contributed greatly to the literacy of students and teachers.
