It looks like La Habra is ringing in a new era where literacy is flourishing. This month, the School Readiness Program in La Habra received the coveted Golden Bell Award for its early literacy fair. This is the first ever Golden Bell for the La Habra City School District.
Now in its 30th year, the highly competitive Golden Bell Award recognizes exemplary programs which are essential to support teaching and learning. The statewide program recognizes outstanding school districts and county offices of education throughout California.
What makes La Habra’s literacy fair notable? The annual event was created after outreach to families in the district revealed a need. Families were not aware of the importance of early literacy to their children’s school readiness and success, and they didn’t know where to go for help. The literacy fair has changed that.
The four goals of La Habra’s early literacy fair are:
- Increase literacy awareness
- Promote home libraries
- Introduce families to an array of literacy activities
- Connect families with community resources and agencies
“The early literacy fair is really catching on with our families,” said Maria Mora, school readiness coordinator for La Habra. “When we started three years ago, we had 375 participants. Last year, that number increased to 660, and this year we had 800 children and adults come to the fair.” More and more community resource agencies are participating too. This year over 16 agencies had booths, ranging from the Commission’s School Readiness and Early Literacy Programs, to the local library, mobile preschool program Readiness on the Road, Boys & Girls Club, Family Resource Center, Head Start, Friends of Children Health Clinic, and the La Habra Children’s Museum.
Congratulations to the School Readiness Program and all the participants!