Hundreds of Children Expected at Literacy Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 28, 2004

Contact:
Lauren Bloom
Program Director
Tufts Hillel
617-627-3242

Medford , MA - Read by the River , an educational fair promoting the importance of early childhood literacy, will be held on April 4, 2004 from noon to 3:30 in Cousens' Gym at Tufts University . This fourth annual literacy celebration has been in the planning stages since September 2002, and in the past has treated over two thousand Medford students to entertainment by comic and musical performances. Medford school children can take part in such activities as face painting, mural and bookmark making, and reading circles - all with a special emphasis on literacy.

Read by the River is a Tufts Hillel initiative, which couldn't be possible without its many sponsors. Organizations such as National Amusements, the City of Medford and the Medford Fire and Police Departments have been participating in Read by the River for the past three years. In collaboration with the Assistant Superintendent of the Medford School District , Arthur Swanson, Tufts students will be making visits to the local schools to promote Read by the River and to hand out bookmarks and book report forms. Upon completion of such a book report form and attendance at the March 30th event, the students can leave the literacy event with a free book in hand, donated by local bookstores and Tufts students. In addition to a free book, students will also receive a free movie pass, courtesy of National Amusements, when they bring along the completed book report form.

Read by the River is more than an opportunity to bring the students of Medford together for an afternoon celebration. It is a chance for the students and their parents to engage in literacy activities, which show them how to incorporate reading into their everyday lives. This unique celebration draws Medford students into the world of literacy while forming bonds between Tufts students and the local community. More than 500 Medford school children and over 200 Tufts students are expected at the festivities.