Northwestern State University’s Early Childhood Education program provided Natchitoches Magnet preschool children and their families with literacy activities, resources and support so they can engage in reading and play activities at home. The donation was made possible by a grant from the International Paper Foundation to support the Cradle to College initiative.
Dr. Michelle Brunson started the Cradle to College initiative in 2013 as an on-going service-learning project in which NSU students and faculty collect supplies and purchase materials to make family literacy bags for preschool and kindergarten students in Natchitoches Parish. Brunson began the project to support families in facilitating literacy learning at home. She has distributed approximately 18,000 literacy bags in the past 10 years.
International Paper Foundation representatives Scott Lonadier, mill manager, and Alexa Steele, communications coordinator, presented the award to Dr. Neeru Deep, interim dean of NSU’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development; Dr. Katrina Jordan, director of the School of Education, and Brunson last December. Part of the grant enabled Brunson, coordinator of Northwestern State University’s Early Childhood Education program, to provide collect and distribute the literacy bags. She worked with Janna Maggio, Early Childhood Coordinator for Natchitoches Parish, to distribut the bags.
“We thank the IP Foundation for their continued support of the Cradle to College initiative,” she said.
Brunson said donations of school supplies and books are always needed. To make a contribution, contact her at faziom@nsula.edu.
Pictured: Magnet students in Michelle Hall land Becky Babers’ class who received literacy bags were, from left, Zymon Raphiel, Claire LaCour, Kenneth Bryant, Leah LaCour and Qu’Adir Allen.
Natchitoches Magnet students in Cynthia Harmon and LaShonda Berryman’s class who received literacy bags to take home were, front row from left, Jamari Prosha, Arianna Parker, Bailey Coutee and Kylen Easley. On the middle row are Jayla White, Chance Fuller, Aizaiah Odom and Zeanthony Brown. On the third row are Zakearia Walker, Jacori Mitchell, Camila Bobb and Ariana Clairborne. On the back row are Zyniah Jones, Journee Jones, Ramsey Glass and Aniyah Petite.
Students in Chelsi Ortiz’s class to receive literacy bags were, front row from left, Aeisha George, Trinity Johnson, Nyla Dorsey, Ma’Kyia Easley, Avery Gordon and Sara Austin. On the back row are Kayleigh Jefferson, Tyrease Brown, Kingston Jackson, King Triggs, Zoey Shelvin, Skylar Moore and Keegan Joseph.
