MAYOR GIBSON, APPLE PARTNERSHIP, JOIN JUMPSTART’S READ FOR THE WORLD RECORD

As part of the APPLE Partnership, Mayor James B. Gibson and the Southeast Region of the Clark County School District (CCSD) participated in Jumpstart Read for the Record, a national campaign to engage people all across America in setting the world record for the largest shared reading experience ever.

On August 24, 2006 at 11 a.m. at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center (1575 Galleria Drive), Mayor Gibson and representatives from the Clark County School District, national sponsors and other local dignitaries joined nearly 1,000 local children to help set the world record and promote childhood literacy.

“Early learning experiences are crucial to the growth and development of young children,” said Mayor Gibson. “Jumpstart’s Read for the Record provides opportunities for everyone in the United States to support quality early education and to engage in the powerful learning experiences that Jumpstart models in its classrooms every day.”

The City of Henderson was the first city in the nation to join the literacy effort, according to Paul McFall, President of Pearson Scott Foresman, one of the national partners for the effort. Starbucks Coffee, American Eagle Outfitters and the Corporation for National and Community Service are also national partners.

“Pearson applauds the City of Henderson and the Clark County School District for being the first to sign on as Read for the Record champions in America,” said McFall. “Research tells us that one in three children in the U.S. enter kindergarten without the vocabulary and other related skills necessary to succeed in school, and that these same youngsters fall farther beyond their peers throughout their school years. Pearson is committed to working with Jumpstart and our good colleagues in Nevada to address this issue, and provide innovative solutions to begin to reverse these alarming statistics.”

The APPLE Partnership is a partnership between the City of Henderson, the Southeast Region of the Clark County School District, parents, teachers and local businesses teamed up to promote early childhood literacy. (MORE)