Circle of Friends Academy supports early literacy efforts

Friday, April 15, 2016

In support of early literacy, Circle of Friends Academy at Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center will host a guest reader at 3 p.m. Friday, April 22, as part of the 2016 PA One Book, Every Young Child program. Matthew Stern, Pennsylvania Department of Education deputy secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will visit Schreiber and share with Circle of Friends’ young readers this year’s book, “Kite Day,” by author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand. Stern was a teacher and administrator in the Lancaster School District and an assistant superintendent at Wyomissing School District in Berks County before taking the state position.

“Circle of Friends believes in the value of early reading, and we are happy to participate in the PA One Book program,” said Christina Kalyan, director of daycare services at Schreiber. “Our children and their families love the opportunity to have a guest from our community share their time and support for early literacy. And it’s always great to hear a good book!”

The PA One Book, Every Young Child is Pennsylvania’s collaborative project using the vehicle of “One Book, One State” program to highlight the importance of early literacy development.

This is the 11th year the One Book, Every Young Child program has promoted the importance of early literacy by emphasizing the importance of reading early and often to children, as well as engaging them in conversation and other activities around books.

This year’s selection, “Kite Day,” demonstrates friendship, creativity, perseverance and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts.

Circle of Friends was established at Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center in 2008 and is one of a handful of Keystone STAR Level 4 inclusional facilities in Pennsylvania, meaning it serves a mix of children with special needs along with typically developing peers. Circle of Friends serves about 120 children annually.
For details on Circle of Friends, visit www.schreiberpediatric.org/circleoffriends. For more information about the PA One Book, Every Young Child project, visit www.paonebook.org.

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Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides physical, occupational and speech-language therapy, as well as educational and recreational programs for thousands of children in central Pennsylvania living with congenital and acquired disabilities and developmental delays. Schreiber also provides services for typically developing children, including a PA Stars 4 Star day care center for children ages 12 months to 5 years.