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SUNNY Temp: 77 °F Wind: N at 5 mph Tuesday, August 12, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 22, 2003 Books bring summer fun By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Between hanging out with friends and watching television, many Rogue Valley youngsters will pass the summer without cracking open a single book. But Griffin Creek school officials hope to spark the minds and imaginations of their students this month by introducing a new program, Pop Into the Library. "We wanted to have our school open and available to kids," Principal Virginia Hicks said on Monday. "This is about giving kids someplace to go and getting them to read." The program, a first for the school, started Monday and runs through Aug. 14. Advertisement Between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday, Griffin Creek students, family members and friends are invited to pop into the school library to check out books, take part in a reading contest or enjoy a handful of educational activities. "We’re going to turn off the TV and do some reading," said Charel DeCoste, whose family dropped by to check out several books Monday morning. "I think this is just great." Ten-year-old Luke DeCoste took Griffin Creek’s summer reading challenge seriously on Monday by checking out "Mossflower," a 400-page swashbuckling yarn about magical mice written by Brian Jacques "It looked interesting and cool," said DeCoste, who will enter fifth grade in the fall. "Some of my friends liked it." Lisa Olson, an educational assistant with Griffin Creek Elementary School, said students who don’t read during the summer are in danger of falling behind their peers. Olson is one of three educational assistants running the four-week program. "A lot of kids don’t read at all during the summer. (This program) really helps them stay on top of it," she added. "Practice makes all the difference." Pop Into the Library isn’t connected with the county’s summer reading program, an annual event that features contests, activities and games for kids ages 3 and older. Student’s interested in the county program — which ends Aug. 9 — can stop by any county library branch or check out www.jcls.org on the Web. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times