By SUE ELLEN ROSS – Staff Reporter

LAPLACE- A unique reading program, made possible by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, held its last session Mar. 24 at LaPlace Elementary School.

The Prime Time Family Reading Program has been ongoing for the past six weeks. It is geared toward students aged six and older and their parents. First-grade teachers Shayla Weier and Amy Gros coordinated the schedule of activities.

“We have had much success,” said Gros at Wednesday’s program. “We have averaged 40-65 parents per session.”

Children were given three books each week to take home and read with their family. Those three books would be the topic of conversation for the next Prime Time session, which took place weekly at the school library.

This read-ahead activity gave students the opportunity to see what the stories were about, and also to formulate questions for the question-and-answer period which followed the reading of each book at the session.

Topics covered reviews of fairy tales, folk tales from around the world, stories from history, and stories about problems students encounter.

Parent Jeffrey Cushenberry accompanied his son, Jeffrey, Jr., 7, to the program on Wednesday. “My son has had a little trouble with reading, so we wanted to try this,” said Jeffrey Sr. “It is a wonderful program, and has helped him immensely.”

Each session of the free Prime TIme program started with an informal dinner in the school gymnasium. A buffet table with food and drinks was set up for participants. Local restaurants have donated the food, and the school PTO gave $300 to the program, according to Gros.

After dinner, everyone moved to the school library located next door to the cafeteria.

Parents and students sat in a horseshoe shaped audience, listening to Gros and Donlon read each of the three books assigned for that week. Props were used during some of the stories, to add to the presentation.

Parent Sheleta Lewis has participated with her son, Elijah, 6, since the program began. Elijah was ill on the night of the last session, and wasn’t able to come. His mom still attended, although Elijah didn’t know this. She wanted to surprise her son when she arrived home, telling him about the discussion that night. Since he had read the books, he would be able to relate.

“This program is designed to foster high academic expectations and achievements within many of our families,” said Weier. “Families can come together and become stronger through this program.”

The grant for the Prime Time Family Reading Program, which came from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, paid for the teachers training to conduct the session, their salaries to coordinate activities and administer the program, and also the cost of the books.

This event at LaPlace Elementary School was the only Prime Time Family Reading Program available in the River Parishes this spring.