An independent, college preparatory, co-ed, Episcopal Day School serves a community of students in grades 6-12.
Issue link: http://palmertrinityschool.uberflip.com/i/154161
completed over 600 hours tutoring and assisting students with their academic needs. In conjunction with Miami Dade County's Team Metro and other business such as Home Depot, the Quiet Garden was created. Over 125 students received book bags and school supplies for the new school year. The first 10 week session of SAT/ACT college test preparation tutoring offered for high school students recently ended. On Saturday, December 13, 2008, CKL hosted the Second Annual Celebration and Book Fair at the Reading Room. During the Book Fair, local authors were featured, children chose books to read while sitting in the Reading Chair decorated with book-themed upholstery, and local vendors made the holiday celebration fun for all. Local businesses such as Sofisa Bank and Community Bank helped sponsor last year's book fair which had approximately 500 persons in attendance. First Book, an initiative through University of Miami's H.O.P.E. project offered up the first donation to the Reading Room for the event - 1,000 books from Scholastic. The success of the Reading Room can be contributed in large part to the efforts and contributions of the community residents who volunteer or donate books. The Reading Room is fortunate to have the help of friends like Palmer Trinity's staff, students, alumni and parents that just jump in and help. It is really inspiring. The Reading Room has received several hundred books from PTS and PTS parents. One PTS graduate, Lauren Benenati volunteered every Saturday last summer to help kindergarteners prepare for the first grade. With an invitation from PTS' Mrs. Vogel, I have also had the pleasure of speaking to the PTS Book Club. My goal of empowering my community begins with the art of giving and receiving. Parents are expected to contribute to the program in some form or fashion, whether it is by providing snacks for a tutoring session or volunteering to read. I believe giving to others and receiving from others should both be exercises in empowerment for the giver and receiver. "An important component of the program is parental and community involvement - neither of which have been in short supply at the Reading Room. The young ladies of Girl Scout Troop 1896, led by Troop Leader Tammy Blakely, help to sort books on a Saturday at Ms. Permello's Reading Room. The books in the photo were all donated by lawyers at the Miami law firms of Hogan & Hartson and Kozyak Tropin and Throckmorton in preparation of the 2nd Annual Celebration and Book Fair. Bell-Alexander says organizations like Girl Scout Troop 1896 have made great contributions of time to the Reading Room, which is in keeping with the spirit of empowerment and community. Girl Scouts enjoy a story in the comfort of Ms. Permello's reading room. P ERSPEC T IVE S 19