Category: Program News

See You in the New Year!

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See You In The New Year!

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on December 15, 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, we have so much to look forward to here at STAIR-Annapolis!

Preparations are well underway to welcome students and tutors back to six of our 12 sites in February 2022. We have dozens of volunteer tutors committed to join us and a strong team of volunteer leadership in our Site Coordinators and Co-Coordinators. We've scheduled site preparations, on-site orientations, and New Volunteer training to make sure we're ready to return to in-person programming.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of shoppers and our friends at Barnes & Noble in the Annapolis Harbour Center, we have hundreds of new, diverse books to distribute to young readers as a result of the recent Holiday Book Drive. These book donations have been sorted, tagged, and packaged as Winter STAIR Book Bundles, waiting to be delivered to schools in January. Our Fall Book Bundles were a hit with students and teachers, so we're excited to have even more great books to gift with this second delivery.

This will be our last blog post of 2021. We'll be back in the New Year with lots to share as our return to in-person programming draws closer. Stay tuned!

Your care and support for the STAIR-Annapolis program over these past 21 months has meant the world to us. In the spirit of giving, we hope you give yourself time to relax, reflect, and read this holiday season. STAIR-Annapolis staff and Board of Directors wish Happy Holidays and a joyous New Year!

quote Program News

STAIR to Resume In-Person Programming in Early 2022

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STAIR to Resume In-Person Programming in Early 2022

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on December 8, 2021

Have you heard the news?

STAIR-Annapolis is prepared to make a safe, thoughtful return to in-person programming in early 2022!

After months of careful consideration and many discussions with our Anne Arundel County Public Schools partners in education, we've decided to take a strategic approach to our return to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and students. STAIR-Annapolis will reopen at a reduced capacity in early 2022: We'll be back at 6 of our 12 sites, with 6 students at each site.

STAIR will continue to follow the latest AACPS mandates, which currently require all employees and volunteers to show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit a weekly negative COVID test.

We know that a controlled, deliberate reopening plan will give us time and space to make adjustments to new policies and procedures as necessary. It is our great hope that STAIR-Annapolis can fully return to programming for the 2022-2023 school year.

Visit the STAIR calendar for important program dates starting in January.

We are very excited to return to the classroom and join our volunteers in continuing the important work of developing second graders into strong readers.

More details are forthcoming as we finalize these plans, so please stay tuned to our social media channels, website, and blog for the most up-to-date information.

We can't wait to see you again very soon!
Ari with tutor Cathy
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Photo Feb 13, 4 40 05 PM
quote Program News | Volunteers

FALL-ing into Books!

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FALL-ing into books!

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on November 17, 2021

Have you heard the news? STAIR-Annapolis is reaching young readers with an exciting new initiative: STAIR Seasonal Book Bundles!

We recently received a MASSIVE donation of beautiful Simon & Schuster children's books from a generous donor. Actually, a number of STAIR supporters had a hand in making sure these books reached us from their former home in New York City. The donation included fiction and nonfiction, books about nature and animals, books about families and neighborhoods, funny books, sweet books, sports books, biographies and history books, and some of the best recently-published children's books.

What to do with so many beautiful books? Share them, of course!

While we continue to thoughtfully plan for a safe return to in-person programming, we want to stay connected to our Anne Arundel County Public Schools partners and our students. Gifting new books for home libraries through STAIR Seasonal Book Bundles is a great way to do just that.

Earlier this month, STAIR staff delivered Fall Book Bundles to our Reading Specialist friends at all 12 elementary schools we serve. It was so nice to see so many friendly (masked!) faces on our rounds and to take a few moments to check in with these hard-working teachers who support developing readers every day.

Reading Specialists will distribute the donated books to students in need of reading support to help ensure they have beautiful new books to read at home.

Seasonal Book Bundle deliveries are already schedule for January 2022, March, and May. We're really excited about this project and happy to have an opportunity to safely support young readers all year long.

If you'd like to make a contribution to help us purchase even more books for students' home libraries, we invite you to consider supporting STAIR's Annual Appeal or joining us on Facebook and Instagram this #GivingTuesday, November 30.

quote Family Engagement | Program News | Read at Home

Barnes & Noble Taps STAIR for Holiday Book Drive

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Barnes & Noble Taps STAIR for Holiday Book Drive

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on November 10, 2021

With the holiday shopping season upon us, STAIR-Annapolis is thrilled to announce that we've been selected by our friends at Barnes & Noble in the Annapolis Harbour Center as the beneficiary of their annual Holiday Book Drive!

As we take time to thoughtfully plan for a return to in-person programming in 2022, book donations like this help us stay connected to students in need of reading support safely and impactfully.

Research has shown that having access to books at home helps improve kids' vocabulary development, attention, and overall academic success. Kids with home libraries of just 20 books are more likely to stay in school longer than their peers who don't have books at home. A home library can also help children develop a good relationship with reading, encouraging them to turn to books for entertainment, to learn about new things, to find answers to their questions, and to satisfy their curiosity about subjects that interest them.

Throughout the month of November, shoppers at Barnes & Noble will have an opportunity to donate a book to STAIR-Annapolis with any purchase. These books will be used to supplement our Seasonal Book Bundles, a new initiative we're really excited about.

STAIR Seasonal Book Bundles will be delivered four times this school year, in November, January 2022, March, and May. The Book Bundles are curated and packaged by STAIR staff, then delivered to Reading Specialists at all 12 AACPS elementary schools we serve. Reading Specialists will distribute the books to students in need of literacy support, helping them build home libraries and ensuring they have access to new, diverse books at home anytime.

Building home libraries is one of the most important aspects of our traditional programming--students enrolled in the STAIR tutoring program get to choose a new book to take home each week--so it's wonderful to be able to continue to give the gift of reading to kids in need even when we can't be together.

If you'd like to support the Holiday Book Drive, simply shop at Barnes & Noble in the Annapolis Harbour Center anytime from now until December 5. At checkout, ask to add a book donation for STAIR-Annapolis to your purchase. Store staff will be happy to recommend a suitable title for our young readers if you're not sure what to buy!

quote Events | Program News

STAIR-Annapolis Annual Report 2021

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STAIR-Annapolis Annual Report 2021

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on October 6, 2021

We're happy to share our 2021 Annual Report!

It's been a year full of challenges and opportunities. Like so many others trying to navigate the "new normal" brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to find creative ways to support and engage the students we serve as they embarked on a year of learning from home.

Thanks to the generosity of our many donors and the unwavering commitment of our amazing volunteers, we were able to meet students where they were last year and make a real impact in the lives of striving young readers in our community.

We have lots of good stuff to share. You're invited to review our Annual Report via the link below and see for yourself!

STAIR-Annapolis Annual Report 2021
quote Program News

An Important Program Update

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An Important Announcement from STAIR-Annapolis

Posted by STAIR-Annapolis on September 22, 2021

Dear Friends of STAIR-Annapolis,

We write to you today with another important program update.

The STAIR-Annapolis Administrative Staff and Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to postpone the STAIR tutoring program.

The STAIR staff and board will reassess the possibility of a return to in-person programming in January of 2022.

The health and safety of STAIR volunteers and the students we serve is our primary concern. We deeply regret that STAIR cannot confidently return to in-person programming this fall, and we share your disappointment in this unfortunate development.

Over the next few months, STAIR staff will continue working to prepare for a safe return in 2022. Our commitment to nurturing relationships with students, families, and our valued volunteers is unchanged.

Another thing that hasn't changed is our desire to meet striving young readers where they are in these uncertain times. That's why the STAIR Family Website is open and available to all. This wonderful resource includes videos, activities, and reading resources provided by STAIR-Annapolis volunteers. The STAIR Family Website helps families "Start The Adventure In Reading" at home. You're invited to visit and see for yourself at https://stairannapolis.org/forfamilies/ .

Your patience and support at this time are sincerely appreciated. While this is not the news any of us hoped for, we know STAIR will be back stronger than ever once the pandemic meaningfully recedes.

The entire STAIR-Annapolis Administrative Staff and Board of Directors sends best wishes for your good health and well-being.

Warmly,

Laura, Erin, Malena & Julieta
STAIR-Annapolis Administrative Staff

quote Program News