I-Beam Reading Program – East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club

What is I-BEAM? I-beam is a mentoring program that pairs at-risk elementary school children with a caring adult who meets with them once a week during the school year to cultivate a love of reading. ECBR is partnering with I-BEAM to volunteer to mentor children in Mount Pleasant Elementary Schools.

How you can help: Sign up to volunteer! You will spend one hour with the same child each session. You can sign up to mentor every week or every other week. Monday through Friday.

I-BEAM Schools: Belle Hall Elementary School, Charles Pinckney Elementary School, James B. Edwards Elementary School, Jennie Moore Elementary School, Laurel Hill Primary School, Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School, and St. James Santee Elementary School

ECBR Literacy Scools: Jennie Moore Elementary School, Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School

Next Steps: Let Ashley Davis (Ashley.davis@blackbaud.com or 704-796-8027) know you are interested in volunteering and make sure to attend one of the following training dates.

Training: We have three options for you!

Sept. 21st at 7 pm and Sept. 24th at 12:00 pm at Christ Church, 2304 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant

Sept.22nd at 6:30 pm at New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church, 635 Pinckney St, McClellanville

Visit http://ecfaithnetwork.org/ for more information

For the August 4th meeting, we will welcome Karen Felder, Principal of Jennie Moore Elementary, as our speaker. She will share with us information about the I-Beam Reading Program, a lunchtime literacy and mentoring program that connects volunteer adult mentors with 2nd – 5th grade students who scored below the 25th percentile of MAP testing and/or qualify for free and reduced lunch, and/or are recommended into the program by their teacher.

Karen is a 1976 Graduate of Wando High School. She has been working in Charleston County for 34 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Karen has been recognized as a STAT principal by CCSD and as the South Carolina PTA Principal of the year. Karen’s passion is developing school cultures that involve strong parental and community connections and support. Karen was on the committee to research and develop a reading/mentor program for schools East of the Cooper. I-BEAM was piloted at Jennie Moore Elementary. As she begins her 13^th year at Jennie Moore, she is excited to be opening a brand new, state of the Art Elementary in 2 weeks.