Members of a Sarnia church want to help city children make up reading skills lost due to disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s important to me that kids know how to read,” said Marg Johnson, who is leading the Kids’ Konnection – Support program about to launch at Central Baptist Church on London Road.
“It’s a way of getting them out of their heads, out of their laptops and into another imaginary world where they can hide if they need to – where they can learn if they want to know something,” Johnson said.
She belongs to a church Learning and Growth Ministries committee that was looking for ways of reaching out into the community and settled on a weekly after-school reading program for kids in grades 1 through 6.
Johnson said members are concerned about youngsters who may be behind in their reading skills because of disruptions to their education over the last two years.
“There are so many gaps in the system right now,” Johnson said. “We could have latched on to anything and have it desperately needed.”
Johnson, who worked for 14 years as a child and youth worker, said adult mentors, including some retired teachers, have been recruited to sit and listen to youngsters while they read aloud for 30 minutes each Tuesday afternoon and evening in a church gym.
Manley’s has donated school supplies for the program, she said.
It’s set to launch March 29 and run weekly to June 21 from 4 pm to 8 pm Parents are being encouraged to call the church office at 519-344-1381 for information on how to sign up.
There is a $20 per month registration fee designed to encourage families to commit to the program. Johnson said they have a scholarship program to help those with financial needs.
“If you don’t put a specific value, whatever it is, on what you’re doing then they’re not going to put value on it,” Johnson said.
It’s all about making kids responsible for what they’re learning, she said.
Johnson said she’s planning ways to encourage kids to continue reading during the week and to stick with the program.
“My big hope is to turn them into readers,” she said.
“I really believe that his is what we should be doing” while “everybody’s trying to find their land legs through this horrible two years.”
Johnson said she’s preparing for up to 24 children and added it’s possible they may offer a spelling program in the summer and continue the reading program in the fall, if it’s needed.
“I really believe in it,” Johnson said.