Temecula Valley – Elsinore Elementary Teacher Receives Grant

Elsinore Elementary School intervention teacher Jennifer Camargo, center, receives a $500 Literacy Grant Award from the Assistance League of Temecula Valley with community ambassador Electra Demos; Joy Kihara, marketing and communications chair; Camargo; Elsinore Elementary Principal Lorraine Pelaez and Annette Sheehy, vice president of philanthropic programs.

LAKE ELSINORE – Jennifer Camargo, intervention teacher at Elsinore Elementary School, is on a mission to promote literacy. Her role is to provide extra support to students in grades 2, 3 and 4 who are two or more grades behind grade level in reading or math. On any school day, she sees up to 48 students for assessment and tutorial support.

Taking advantage of Assistance League of Temecula Valley’s call for classroom grants last fall, Camargo submitted a project to create a cozy reading space in her classroom, equipped with comfortable furniture and new reading materials for her students.

“In my opinion,” Camargo said. “It is imperative that students acquire the habit of reading independently and closely. The success of this project can be measured by discussing students’ feelings and attitudes toward reading (in their own reading space), and their Reading Inventory test scores.”

Camargo’s application caught the attention of Joy Kihara, the marketing and communications chair for Assistance League of Temecula Valley. She promptly contacted LEUSD’s district office to explain that during Feb. 24 through March 2, Assistance League promotes a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the importance of childhood literacy, known as Assistance League ACTION! Week, with the hashtag #ALACTIONWeek. Kihara announced that Camargo will receive the full grant award.

Assistance League community ambassador Electra Demos and Annette Sheehy, vice president of philanthropic programs, accompanied Kihara on a school visit Feb. 25, to formally present Camargo and Principal Lorraine Pelaez with a $500 classroom literacy award certificate.

More information can be found at https://www.assistanceleague.org.

Submitted by Assistance League of Temecula Valley.