Grand Opening
Thanks to Dr. George Rausch, Associate Dean and Mr. Fred Hamilton, Associate Director, both of St. Louis University, Kennard CJA opened the doors to the Dr. Ben Carson Reading Room on Juanary 22, 2007. Our students, who are avid readers, have been looking forward to the opening of the Ben Carson Reading Room since they initially found out about it.
The Reading Room is located on the second floor, on the North East side, in room 203. Previously, the Language Arts Resource instructor used this room, since he was moved to another location. The Reading Room is open to staff, students and parents.
Dr. George Rausch, Associate Dean, St. Louis University School of Medicine’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, funded the eight St. Louis Reading Rooms, from his $1.4 million Federal Grant. Mr. Fred Hamilton, Associate Director of the St. Louis University MIND Program assisted with this Reading Room endeavor. Future funding will be up to the Kennard Family of staff, students, parents and community.
The Reading Room Project began in 2000 when Dr. Ben and Candy Carson opened their first Reading Room at Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School in Aberdeen, Maryland. Their Reading Room Program has grown dramatically in the past seven years. With the opening of this new Reading Room, there are currently 35 Reading Rooms operating in schools in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Harford County, Maryland, and Saint Louis, Missouri.
It is Dr. Carson’s belief that ALL children should have a safe, comfortable place to relax and read, to expand their minds and explore new places and ideas by reading. These Reading Rooms are decorated with whimsical characters that illustrate positive role models and promote the “THINK BIG PHILOSOPHY”.
Dr. Carson’s THINK BIG Philosophy: T is for TALENT
H is for HONESTY
I is for INSIGHT
N is for NICE
K is for KNOWLEDGE
B is for BOOKS
I is for IN-DEPTH Learning
G is for ******
The coordinator for the Reading Room is Margaret E. Franklin.
