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Rio Hondo College News

MEDIA ALERT
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Merle Enriquez   Secretary
Department: Planning and Development
Phone:  (562) 692-0921  Ext. 3412
Rio E-Mail: MEnriquez@riohondo.edu

Whittier City School District
7211 S. Whittier Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602
MEDIA ADVISORY
March 10, 2006

ANDREWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXPANDS GARDEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OPENING OF THE WONDER OF READING LIBRARY

Whittier, CA – The Grand Opening of a new Wonder of Reading library will take place at 9:45a.m. Thursday, March 16th on the Andrews Elementary School campus. The opening will not only feature a beautiful new library, but also the redesigned William Jimenez Garden.

“The love of reading is invaluable in laying the foundation for academic success,” said Whittier City School District Superintendent Dr. Carmella Franco. “That love is nurtured in the type of setting where a child can pick up a book and read inside a state of the art library or outside in a lovely garden.”

Principal Erlinda Soltero-Ruiz has led the school and community-based effort to raise an additional $10,000 to pay for fencing, furniture, and beautification of the garden. One parent, who owns a local nursery, made a generous donation of several potted plants and a tree.

To energize the fundraising effort, Principal Soltero-Ruiz promised that if the community raised the monies needed for the garden, she would dress-up and sing karaoke to the students at Andrews Elementary. On March 3, 2006, the money was raised and the esteemed principal delighted students as she belted out songs in a clown suit, big shoes, and a red nose.

“It was very important to us to preserve William’s garden,” said Mrs. Erlinda Soltero-Ruiz. “This garden has been a comfort not only to our students but also to the Jimenez family. The opening of The Wonder of Reading library was the perfect time to remove the partitions that had divided the garden and create a space that not only complements the library but serves as a teaching tool for both literature and science.”

The Wonder of Reading program has sponsored library renovations for nine schools within WCSD. Each selected WCSD school receives a grant for $35,000 from the Rose Hills Foundation and must provide matching funds. Seven of these renovated libraries are already open (Hoover, Jackson Lincoln, Longfellow, Mill, Orange Grove, Phelan, and West Whittier).

“The Whittier City School District is committed to providing quality learning facilities for our students, teachers, and staff,” said Dr. Franco. “The District will continue to work with our partners so that each of our schools will serve as a reflection of our commitment.”

The Whittier City School District has 10 elementary schools and two middle schools, serving 7000 students.

-RHC-

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