Volunteer readers from the community helped Washington County SOAR! in reading to every first grade classroom in the county.  Every spring, SOAR! coordinates with the schools to carry out Put Your Nose In A Book (PYNIAB).

Volunteers wore big red clown noses and read an age appropriate book to first graders at Bradie Shrum Lower Elementary, East Washington and West Washington Elementary School this month.

As part of SOAR’s goal to promote literacy in the county, Erica Schmidt and Marji Morris, SOAR! directors, passed out red clown noses to the students, reminding them to put their noses in a book over the summer. Following the reading, each student received a copy of the book to keep, along with a bookmark acknowledging the sponsors.

“The students really enjoyed the program.  It was fun to see them get excited about the books and reading,” Schmidt said.  “Parents of students who previously participated in the program have indicated that his/her child still wears their clown nose and talks about how exciting the program was.”

Sponsors for PYNIAB this year were First Harrison Bank, Fox and Kristy Purlee, Fred and Debbie Mildenburger, Jerry and Sherry Hammond, Kevin and Luanne Campbell, Raymond McBride, Rita Elliott, Salem York Rite Masons, St. Vincent Salem, Washington County Prevent Child Abuse.

Community volunteer readers at Bradie Shrum Lower Elementary were Chaylon Calloway, Denise Newkirk, Joyce Fordyce, Lindsey Wade-Swift, Kerry Lewis and Kristy Purlee.

East Washington Elementary readers were Adrian Brown, Debbie Mildenburger, George Browning, Kortney Schmidt and Rita Elliott.

At West Washington Elementary readers included Becky Day, Debbi Hayes, Stephanie Rockey and Karen York.

PYNIAB is just one of Washington County SOAR’s family and youth programs.  SOAR! is the only non-profit organization in the county that provides free one-on-one tutoring in basic and advanced reading, comprehension, phonics, writing, math, life – skills, English as a second language and pre-GED for adults and reading programs for youth and families. 

SOAR! is currently accepting new students.  To sign up, call the SOAR! office at 812-896-1515.
Washington County SOAR! is a not-for-profit organization.  Tax deductible donations can be mailed to Washington County SOAR!, 1707 N. Shelby St. Suite 107, Salem, IN 47167.

For people who cannot read, or cannot read well, reading assistance is currently available. Washington County SOAR! Adult and Family Literacy Program serves all of Washington County.

SOAR! is the only non-profit organization in the county that provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring for adults and reading programs for youth and families.  SOAR! recently trained a new class of volunteer tutors, so tutor/student matches can be made fairly quickly.

“The hardest step for an adult learner is seeking the help they need,” said Erica Schmidt, Washington County SOAR! director in training. “We want to help those who come to SOAR! be even more successful both in their personal and professional lives,” Schmidt continued.

The individualized tutoring is what makes SOAR! so successful.  Tutoring is done on a one-on-one basis, and mutually convenient meeting times are arranged by the student and tutor.  All meetings are held in a private, public place, such as the SOAR! office, the Community Learning Center or the Library.

Schmidt encourages family members and friends of people who cannot read, or who cannot read well to contact the SOAR! office for assistance.  All inquiries are confidential as is the tutoring list.

Schmidt added, “Several SOAR! students recently passed the GED exam, and four students so far this spring have gained new employment. SOAR! works.”

The Washington County SOAR! office is located in the Washington County Community Learning Center at 1707 N. Shelby Street, Suite 107.  The office is open Mon. – Thurs. 10 -4:30. Those interested in receiving tutoring or becoming a SOAR! volunteer may call the office at 812-896-1515.