The Selma Times-Journal

Summer vacation is one of the most anticipated times of the year for students.

To keep their minds sharp, Tabernacle Baptist Church, where the Rev. Rodney Morton is pastor, is organizing

its Reading Campaign Enrichment Program, which will take place June 25-29 from 9 a.m. until noon.

“Practice is the key to a child doing well,” said Gwen Carrington, reading campaign committee member.

According to Carrington and program coordinator Vanessa Goodwin, the program is open to pre-K to 12th graders and focuses on reading and language arts. There will also be help for those students having trouble passing the Alabama High School Exit Exam.

“We do have materials designed to help those kids,” Goodwin said.

The program will not be all drills and listening, Goodwin said. The plan is to keep the classes interactive.

“We just want them to have a lot of fun through learning,” Goodwin said.

The program is free of charge and open to children from all schools. All materials are provided and transportation will even be provided if needed. In addition, lunch will be served at noon.

“We just want willing bodies,” Carrington said.

The classes will be taught by Tabernacle members who are retired from or actively teaching in the school system. Goodwin is one of those teachers, retired after 26 years.

“I loved it,” she said.

After the five-day program, each child will be encouraged to take a book home with them to continue to exercise the skills they’ve learned.

“We’re doing more than just preaching, singing and praying,” Morton said of his congregation in an earlier interview.

Indeed they are. According to Goodwin, the church has a similar program focusing on mathematics scheduled for July.

“We have a lot of people in the community who are in need of help,” she said.

Goodwin said the past years have yielded good participation and the same is expected this year.

Learning can be fun.

“That’s the key to engaging students in active participation,” Carrington said. “We don’t want it to be just another program.”

To schedule a ride or for more information, call the church at 874-9443. If there is no answer, please leave a message on the answering machine.