Niles schools partner with Meet Up and Eat Up to host lunch, reading program

Published 8:38 am Thursday, June 28, 2018

NILES — Niles Community Schools will partner with Meet Up and Eat Up for a summer program to bring pop-up libraries to Niles elementary students throughout the summer. At each of the four installments, students will be able to pick out a book of their choice—at their reading level—to take home for free.

Pop-up libraries will take place on the following dates:

• Noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at the Niles District Library, 620 Main St.

• 12:30 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, at the YMCA, 905 Front St.

• Noon to 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 16, at Northside Child Development Center, 2020 North Fifth Ave.

• 12:30 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at Birchcrest Estates, 2330 East Main St.

• 12:30 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at Sholtey Park, 2547-2553 Huntly Road

• Noon to 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 30, at the Niles District Library, 620 Main St.

The pop-up library program was launched by NCS in a commitment to reduce summer learning loss, which often occurs in students during summer vacation. In addition to the pop-up libraries, NCS sent every elementary student home with a summer reading pack that included engaging books at each student’s reading level, and tips to make the most of summer reading opportunities.

“Niles Community Schools is committed to encouraging students to become lifelong readers, and connecting families with resources available in the community,” said Donna Roark, the district’s assistant superintendent. “Through the launch of the summer reading program, including take-home book packs and pop-up libraries, we hope to make it easy for Niles families to spend quality time together while also strengthening each student’s reading comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking conversational skills.”

The summer reading program at NCS seeks to address the gaps in learning primarily for children under the poverty line. The program also serves as additional preparation for the district to adhere to Michigan’s new third grade reading law, a law requiring underperforming students at the third-grade reading level to repeat the grade.