ARCADIA, Kan. — Although school is out for the summer, children can still keep their minds engaged throughout the break.

A new opportunity to increase literacy skills and create crafts while grabbing a free summer meal is now available for students in the USD 246 area called “Viking Voyagers,” led by second grade elementary instructor Paula Fleury. 

According to Fleury, the idea for the summer reading program came about after the school district received a grant from Pittsburg State University. 

“This year, we received a grant from Pitt State as one of the four or five schools that were chosen through the state of Kansas and through Pitt State to do a literacy grant and have a literacy coach,” said Fleury. “Ms. (Kerstin) Womble (Northeast Elementary Principal) asked me to maybe take on this little thing and see what it turns into.

“So, I learned a lot about literacy coaching and connecting, but what it really did was (cause me to) just stop and listen to what teachers are saying, (and look at) what the data is showing, and then think about the community. Honestly, just reaching out because we are a school that serves four areas, four communities, and so often in schools we just think about just serving right here in Arma. But why not reach out to Arcadia, Mulberry, Franklin?”

Throughout its first week, the Viking Voyagers has made its way to Arma, Franklin, Mulberry, and Arcadia to provide an hour during which a child can come and read, do a fun activity, and win prizes along with check out books. Fleury said that the Franklin event had a large turnout with around 20 kids of all ages. 

The program is held at the sites for the Summer Food Service Program. Each event begins at noon and runs until 1 p.m. Location sites are: Northeast Elementary (Monday, 201 N. West St.), Franklin Community Park (Tuesday, 500 S. Broadway St.), Mulberry Senior Citizens Center (Wednesday, 207 S. Military Ave.), and Arcadia City Hall (Thursday, 106 E. Race St). 

Fleury noted the importance of increasing literacy skills as reading scores have declined and stagnated through recent years with third and fourth grade students scoring below the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Basic level.

“It’s crucial because I think, especially in the early years, we forget that kids are so capable of learning and just absorbing so much,” she said. “I call them ‘little sponges’ and so just reading a book can bring so much exploration into literacy and also, encourage them when they get older because they make you think of those fond memories of spending special time with your family, somebody is reading to you, going to the library. I mean kids just don’t have those memories, so why not start now?

“And the older kids we tend to forget about, too, because it’s like ‘Oh, you’re reading, you’re capable of this’ and we just let them go off on their own but we forget that we all, no matter what age we are, want that attention and we want somebody to kind of encourage us and be there for us.

“... I’m here all June and July from 12 (p.m.) to 1 (p.m.) on those specific days in each community and anybody is welcome. I mean, obviously, I love Northeast kids coming and continuing that literacy support but any kid is welcome at this point and I love that and I think that just goes back to my joy of teaching and why I started what I was doing as an educator is just seeing those kids grow and learn and be excited.”

For more information or questions, email pfleury@usd246.org.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.