Duplessis Primary School teacher receives Ascension Fund grant for reading project

Emily Messina, a third grade teacher at Duplessis Primary, received an Ascension Fund Grant for the 2023-2024 school year. The project is called Text Access for All 3rd Grade Readers.

The purpose of this project was to provide high interest, engaging texts to all students, regardless of reading ability. Students received books on their instructional level that were tied to the standards and the Louisiana Guidebooks curriculum. The grant was also used to purchase Scholastic News magazines on multiple reading levels so that all students would be able to read them independently.

"Students loved having access to these texts, especially the monthly Scholastic StoryWorks and the weekly Scholastic News Magazines," Messina said. "Students were eager to read the books and magazines and looked forward to receiving them. The texts were also used during small group reading instruction to reinforce the reading skills students learned throughout the year.

"Based on end of year testing to evaluate fluency and basic comprehension, most students were able to meet their end of year benchmarks. The funding of this grant made it possible for students to have access to additional texts that undoubtedly helped them meet their goals."

Funds for the grant were provided by Neese Industries Inc. through the Ascension Fund.

The fund is a non-profit organization established in 1991 by the Gonzales Rotary Club as an instrument for private sector leaders to invest directly in the work of individual teachers and schools through grants for innovative ideas and programs in Ascension Parish public schools.

Teacher Grants of $500 or $1,000 and School Impact Grants of $2,500 are awarded on an annual competitive basis. To date, the Ascension Fund has awarded approximately 1,500 grants representing over $1.8 million dollars in the school system. For more information, visit www.ascensionfund.com.