KINGWOOD — Dressed like princesses, super heroes and other fictional characters, students at the Kingwood Energy Express site were enjoying learning Friday.
Each week of the free five-week literacy and nutrition program revolves around a theme: Myself, family, friends, home place and community, and world.
Last week’s theme was family, so site supervisor Alison Pritt brought in someone from her family as a guest reader: Her father, Preston Chief Deputy P.A. Pritt. Deputy Pritt read two books to the students: “Good Night Gorilla” and “Diary of a Worm.”
About 33 children are attending the Kingwood site this year, Pritt said. There is also an Energy Express site at Masontown. Any student is grades 5-12 can attend Energy Express.
They start the day at 8:15 a.m. with breakfast. During the day, they read a book with a mentor, listen to stories and do art, drama and writing to help maintain and improve their literacy. There is recreation and lunch before the day ends at noon.
“We make a lot of art projects and we read books,” 9-year-old Ryley Bentz said.
Her favorite book so far has been “Scaredy Squirrel,” who hangs out in his tree day after day until one day he falls out.
“It’s funny because he’s scared only of green Martians. It doesn’t say anything about red Martians,” Ryley said with a giggle.
As part of family week, “We’ve discussed the complexities of family dynamics, that all families are different. That it’s OK if you live with your grandma,” Pritt said.
The programs rely heavily on volunteers. There are also three AmeriCorps service workers assigned to the Kingwood program. They receive an $1,850 living allowance and $1,200 scholarship.
Energy Express is also doing a book drive and will distribute the books at stops of the Learning in Motion bus. Books can be left in the box at Preston High, by the Energy Express sign, or at one of the Reading Barns laround the county.
