Literacy day held at park this Saturday

Published 10:29 pm Thursday, March 4, 2010

Since about this same time last year, more than 100 young students from the Pike County area have been looking toward Literacy Day at the Park.

At long last it’s here.

Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Alpha Kappa Alpha graduate sororities will host Literacy Day at the Park from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 6 at Murphree Park in Troy. All children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grades are invited to participate.

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“Literacy Day at the Park will be filled with activities to promote excitement about literacy,” said Tracy Thomas, Delta Sigma Theta event chair. “The program is designed to open kids’ eyes to various forms of literacy. We will read to them, give each of them a book and school supplies and conduct science experiments with them. They will have a science experiment to take home. We’ll also have hotdogs, snacks, cake and something to drink. So, it will be a fun time and a time to learn.”

Nearly 150 young students participated in Literacy at the Park last year. It was such a great success that the sororities decided to make it an annual event.

“The kids had so much fun and the parents were so please with it that we knew that we had to do it again,” Thomas said.

Literacy Day at the Park is funded through the sororities.

“It falls under the educational agendas for all three of the sororities,” Thomas said.

“Delta does the science experiments, AKA does Reading is Fundamental and Sigma Gamma Rho has a book bag program so they provide the school supplies.”

Thomas said last year’s experiments were making a rainbow in milk and a Coke geyser using Mentos and Coca-Cola.

“On Saturday, we’ll make a hover craft out of a CD, a sports bottle cap and a balloon,” she said.

“It will hover just above the table until the air gives out.

Thomas said the sororities are excited about Literacy Day at the Park.

“It’s a great way to get students excited about literacy by showing them the importance of reading and how it is incorporated into all aspects of life,” she said. “On behalf of the Troy Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Sigma Gamma Rho sororities, we invite the community to join us on Saturday but we do ask that parents attend to supervise and enjoy the festivities.”