June 2016 Newsletter

Read up on all the latest happening with SAYL!

Upcoming events, Reading Buddy updates, & more!

Your Monthly News & Updates – June 2016

SAYL Welcomes New Staff

The end of the school year brought a few changes to the SAYL family. We welcomed our new Executive Director, Dr. Deborah Valdez, along with two new Program Managers Aimee Carrasco and Kelly Daus. We are also excited as our long time Program Director Robyn Myers shifted into a new position for SAYL. Read more here…

A Note from Our Executive Director

In taking over the reins of SAYL, it was immediately obvious to me what a fortunate opportunity and huge responsibility I had been given as the Executive Director. It is no accident that SAYL has been a driving force for children’s literacy in Bexar County since 1984.Along the way, the efforts of dedicated staff, committed school district personnel, generous community and corporate sponsors and partners, and of course our Reading Buddies, without whom there would be no program, have sustained the vision of Harriet Marmon Helmle, founder of SAYL. Read more here…

Upcoming Events

Status of 3rd Grade Literacy in San Antonio

Friday, October 7, 11:30 a.m.

Pearl Stable, 307 Pearl Parkway

Join us for our fall luncheon featuring a panel discussion with Brian Gottardy, Ed.D., Pedro Martinez, MBA, Brian T. Woods, Ed.D., along with moderator Robert Rivard.

Click here for more information and to register.

Reading Buddy Insider

Preliminary Results Are In!

2015-2016 school year initial results:

1,364 Students Served

756 Reading Buddy Volunteers

Students showed an average improvement of 4 Reading Levels!

Stay tuned for our full report card coming soon!

SAISD Background Forms Available Now!

SAISD Reading Buddies! Submit your background form for the 2016-2017 school year now and beat the rush! The new background forms are available here (under Quick Links). Download the forms and send them to laura.nygaard@saylonline.wpengine.com.

SAYL Book Buddies Initiative

Book Buddies Gives out 11,600 Books

During the last two weeks of the school year the SAYL Book Buddies Initiative was out in full force, holding free book fairs for students at four SAISD schools. A total of 8,000 books were distributed to students in grades Pre-K through 5th grade. In addition, SAYL Book Buddies also collected 3,600 books for the 1,400 students who participated in the SAYL Reading Buddy Program this year, making the grand total of books distributed over 11,600! Read more…

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Viki Ash, our SAYL June Volunteer of the Month. Viki is the director of Children’s Services for the San Antonio Public Library and is a wonderful SAYL partner. She is our storytime reader at our summer Camp Read Aloud, bringing our books to life for our young readers. Read more about Viki here.

Donor Spotlight

San Antonio Youth Literacy proudly participated in the first Regional Public PK-12 Education Forum on April 21st. This event centered on educational initiatives, issues and the quest for student success in the San Antonio area. As an outcome of our involvement, SAYL was one of five organizations chosen to receive a $5,000 grant from the net proceeds. Thank you to the San Antonio Regional Public PK-12 Education Forum Fund for your support. The energy and enthusiasm generated from this event will hopefully spread throughout the San Antonio community in the weeks and months ahead as we continue to work together toward a better educated community.

San Antonio Youth Literacy | 210.299.1533 | saylonline.wpengine.com

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Executive Director’s Note – May 2018

Book Buddy News – May 2018

Volunteer Spotlight – May 2018

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