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After a two-year hiatus, Bookin’ Buddies returned to Luverne Elementary School Wednesday, Oct. 5.
“We are very excited to have the program back up and running,” said Zoe DeBates, the school’s Child Guide.
“The primary goal of the Bookin’ Buddies program is to foster relationships between all second-grade students at Luverne Elementary and caring adults within Rock County and to teach the children a love of reading.”
Adults and students spend 30 minutes together each Wednesday. The four second-grade classrooms are split, with two classrooms participating in Bookin’ Buddies the first semester of the school year and the other two during the second semester.
During second semester of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic closed in-person instruction and Bookin’ Buddies came to a halt.
The program’s positive influence brought adults and the second-graders back together again last week for the current school year.
Adult volunteer Connie Connell sparked the program’s inception in 2001 after she and a group of citizens finished the Blandin Foundation’s leadership program.
“That made us eager to use our new skills at organization,” she said. “At the time, it wasn’t long-term though.”
Connell returns each year along with 40 to 45 other adult volunteers.
“It’s one of those programs where the time commitment is minimal,” Connell said. “It’s a chance to meet some young people – and know you’ll have your summers off.”
Impacts of the interaction, however, are long-term.
Connell frequently sees her second-grade Bookin’ Buddies (now adults) who also have fond memories of the program.
DeBates was one of those second-graders.
“My buddy’s name was Colleen and I looked forward to seeing her each week,” she said. “It was nice to have someone come to the school who was only there to work with reading and spend one-on-one time with me.”
Now as the school’s Child Guide, DeBates said the program has a more significant impact in her efforts to connect students with activities and family with community resources.
“As a result of the relationship established between youth and caring adults, the children are introduced to a positive role model, learn to love to read more, and have a greater chance at being successful,” DeBates said.