Some 5,500 Monroe Public Schools children – from the youngest to those entering their senior year in the fall – are being encouraged to keep up their reading and math skills throughout the summer months, and members of the Monroe business community have stepped forward to help make sure they do.

     Not only that, groups of Monroe Public Schools teachers will be fanning out to various public locations every Monday through Thursday from June 27 through August 4 to coordinate summer outreach reading programs. 

     Called the Monroe Public Schools Summer Learning Planner program, all students will receive their own 16-page planner at the end of school.  In it, they can write their summer goals for reading and math and then record their progress, including how many pages read, how much time spent on reading, and what types of books are being read.  When they complete their goals, there are “tickets” they fill out and drop off at participating businesses. 

     “We know that a lot of learnings from the previous school year is lost during the summer months when children are not in school.  This program addresses that.  Our reading outreach program also is a way for students to maintain some contact with their teachers and for our teachers to meet their incoming students in a non-formal, yet educational setting,” said Julie Everly, deputy superintendent, Monroe Public Schools.

     “The reception from the Monroe business community has been phenomenal.  We are very thankful to all.  Each participating place will have a container where the students can drop off their completed tickets,” Mrs. Everly said.  “Many of the businesses will be handing out surprises when students drop off their tickets, for example a donut at Tim Horton’s, a free copy of the newspaper at the Monroe News, free dessert at Dena’s Restaurant, a kid-appropriate gift at the pharmacy at Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital or different kid-friendly handouts at Monroe Bank & Trust locations in town.”

     In addition, a number of the participating businesses have contributed to grand prizes to be awarded to lucky participants at the end of the campaign.

     The summer outreach reading program will be at the Navarre Library and Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Ravenwood Park and Willow Green Mobile Home Park on Mondays; Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Meadowbrook Park Monroe Township Park and Oakridge Estates on Tuesdays; Dorsch Library and Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Willow Green Mobile Home Park and South Monroe Townsite Park on Wednesdays; and Ellis Library, and the Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Oakridge Estates and Meadowbrook Park on Thursdays.  All one-hour reading sessions begin at 1 p.m.

     Ticket drop off locations are at Broadway Market, Dena’s Family Restaurant, Education Plus Credit Union, Fifth Third Bank, Go M.A.D. Fitness, Herkimer Radio, Hungry Howies, Key Bank, Meemic Insurance, Monroe Bank & Trust (three locations), Monroe Charter Township Office and Concession Stand, Monroe News, Monroe Public Schools Summer Learning Academy and Administration Building, Oaks of Righteousness Church, Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital, Raymond James Financial, Rick’s Sports, Tim Horton’s (two locations) and Victory Lane Oil Change (two locations.)Busi