Center for Literacy Enrichment Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

By Andreia DeVries

The Center for Literacy Enrichment, a division of the School of Education at Pace University, will be marking its 40th anniversary this September. The center works to improve the reading and writing skills of children ages five and older.

Sister St. John Delany, the Director of the Center for Literacy Enrichment, founded the program in 1972 when it belonged to the College of White Plains. In 1975 the College of White Plains merged with Pace University.

“Parents like that it’s associated with the university,” says Sister St. John. Most of the teachers at the Center for Literacy Enrichment are Pace University graduates. All of the teachers are fully certified.

The center follows a New York State curriculum.

Teachers at the center use a literature based approach in their classes. It is not a skills based program in which students can place out of a certain skill set. Every child begins learning with a piece of literature.

“Every year our philosophy is ‘a book in every child’s hand,’” says Sister St. John.

Based on the children’s reading, the teachers use a running record from which they can determine the strengths and weaknesses of each student. From there the teachers can determine which level each child belongs in.

There are eight teachers at the Center for Literacy Enrichment. Class sizes on average consist of five or six kids.

“We try very hard to meet each individual child’s needs,” says Sister St. John. “The teachers are trained to know what they’re looking for.”

Classes are offered throughout the school year to children in elementary and middle school. Students arrive in the afternoon after completing their regular day of school.

Parents from all over Westchester send their children to the Center for Literacy Enrichment. Students have come from Harrison, Port Chester, Rye, Eastchester, New Rochelle, Pleasantville, and Cortland Manor, in addition to White Plains.

Seventy-five children were enrolled at the center during the 2010 – 2011 school year. Forty-five children were enrolled this summer.

During the summer the center runs a half-day and full-day program for students. The full-day program begins with a purely academic morning and transitions to a fun learning environment in the afternoon. Afternoons include outdoor sports, literacy games, and academic guest visitors.

“I feel that in the summer kids need to be more engaged in schoolwork than just play in camps,” says local mother Fran Grippo, whose daughter attended this year’s summer program. “I liked the Center for Literacy Enrichment because the morning was schoolwork and the afternoon was fun activities. It was entertaining but yet my daughter learned.”

The Center for Literacy Enrichment also runs a few programs outside of the regular classes. The Canning Program is open to four- and five-year-olds and uses art, literature and music to help its students become more literate and prepared for school.

Writing workshops are available to middle and high school students. One-on-one tutoring is offered during the year as well for students in K-12.

In conjunction with its 40th anniversary, next month on Sept. 24 the Center for Literacy Enrichment will be hosting a book fair at Barnes & Nobles in the White Plains City Center from 1 to 4 p.m. During the fair people will read stories and a percentage of purchases made will go towards the center if customers mention it during checkout.

The final celebration gala for the center’s 40th anniversary will occur at the American Yacht Club in Rye on April 19, 2012. Everybody is welcome to attend the event.

For any enrollment or other inquiries, Sister St. John Delany can be reached at (914) 422-4135 or at mdelany@pace.edu.