Valencia College summer students and visitors to the school’s Poinciana and Osceola campuses will notice a new addition—free books at new Little Libraries.
Through a partnership with Osceola Reads, each Little Library will be stocked with books in English, Spanish and Creole. Students and visitors, particularly those with young children who will be soon entering kindergarten themselves, can take—and leave, if they choose—materials home to foster a love for reading, and a readiness to read once those kindergartners reach school.
As English is the language of educating in classrooms, one of the aims is to help those parents from whom English is not their native language help ready their children to read and success once in school. The new Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) program at Valencia also assists low-income student parents in need of affordable, quality child care services while pursuing their degrees.
Valencia Poinciana and Osceola Provost Dr. Lancelot Gooden, said the partnership is another way to expand the accessibility of educational resources and opportunities.
“We are committed to creating the right conditions for all to learn and thrive by nurturing a culture of learning and community engagement,” Gooden said.
We are proud to partner with Osceola Reads to bring these vibrant and meaningful additions to our campuses. This project not only promotes literacy but also strengthens our connection with the local community.”
It’s all a part of a partnership among those invested in making sure the youngest students are ready to achieve in kindergarten—the Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County, School District of Osceola County, the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, and other government partners.
“Community partnerships like this are crucial to raising literacy rates in our community,” Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County CEO Amanda Kelkenberg said. “By working together, we can create more opportunities for children and families to access books and educational resources, fostering a love for reading from an early age. The installation of these Little Libraries is a testament to what we can achieve when organizations come together with a shared vision for education and community well-being.”
