Cuero ISD Literacy Lounge

Our literacy team was actively involved in the Back to School Bash held on Tuesday, August 6, from 4-7 pm. During the event, we enthusiastically enrolled parents in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program that delivers free books to households with children aged 0-5 on a monthly basis. We provided an array of captivating books suitable for all age groups and distributed a total of 176 books to families in our community. In addition to providing books, our literacy team offered valuable tips and guidance to families on how to effectively engage their children in digital reading. We emphasized the significance of reading to children from an early age and highlighted the benefits of fostering a love for books and reading in young minds.

Hello everyone! My name is Stephanie Sanders. I am thrilled to be starting my 21st year at Cuero ISD, and this marks my 27th year in the field of education. I am the library manager at French, and I am enthusiastic about instilling a love of reading in your child. One of my fondest childhood memories is the story "There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly," which sparked my passion for reading. I am married, and my pets are like my children to me. I have one incredibly spoiled dog, as well as a few cats. I enjoy spending my free time at the beach, engaging in activities such as reading, shopping, traveling, and spending time with my family. Mrs. Sanders looks forward to visiting and interacting with the community during Magical Mondays.

Bonnie Garza is the dedicated library manager at Hunt Elementary, a valued member of the Cuero ISD community for the past 20 years. Her passion for fostering a love of reading among young students is evident as she eagerly welcomes children into the library, beaming with excitement at the prospect of discovering new books. Reflecting on her own childhood, Bonnie fondly reminisces about her favorite book, "The Little Red Hen." Away from work, Bonnie's heart is with her family, especially her three beloved grandchildren, who bring boundless joy and fulfillment to her life. She eagerly anticipates the holidays, cherishing these precious moments of togetherness with her loved ones. Another source of joy for Bonnie is embarking on spontaneous road trips, keeping up with the latest movie releases, and exploring new destinations.Mrs. Garza is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming Magical Mondays, eager to engage with the community and share her love for reading and learning with all.

I am Jessie Salazar, the newly appointed library manager for Cuero Junior High. I am a devoted school librarian, fluent in both English and Spanish, and enthusiastic about crafts. I have been a proud resident of Cuero, Texas for 4 years and will mark my first year with the school district this September 2024. As a student, the book "The Indian in the Cupboard" left a lasting impression on me. I vividly recall the story of Omri, a young boy who unearthed the enchanting abilities of a magical cupboard. I am committed to fostering a love for reading and nurturing creativity at the CJH Library. Let's embark on a journey to make reading not just educational, but also enriching and delightful. Together, we can ignite the power of imagination through the magic of literature.

Marie Galloway, the Library Manager at Cuero High School, is an experienced professional with 22 years of dedicated service in the field of education. Passionate about working with students, she finds joy in the enriching interactions that take place within the library. Marie appreciates a wide range of books and does not confine herself to a single favorite. One fascinating detail about her is her deep admiration for Elvis Presley, despite the legendary singer's passing. In her early teenage years, Marie had an unexpected encounter with history when she bravely jumped the rock fence at Elvis's home in Memphis. Although her intentions were not to approach the property, a guard swiftly escorted her back to her mother, much to the amusement of the surrounding tourists eagerly awaiting a glimpse of Graceland. Looking ahead, Marie is excited about the upcoming Magical Mondays, set to begin in September. She eagerly anticipates seeing the children's enthusiasm for the free books and the various arts and crafts activities that will be offered. Marie feels privileged to be a part of Cuero ISD and is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the educational community.

Students now have access with a click of a button to a plethora of library resources. TexQuest offers an impressive array of digital resources that are accessible to all educators, students, and their immediate families in Texas K-12 public schools. Through their Classlink accounts, students from PreK through 12th grade can effortlessly tap into a diverse collection of top-notch digital resources with just a single click. These valuable resources are stored in a folder named Library Resources in Classlink, and they support academic research and leisure reading, whether students are at school or at home.

We started the month of prepping and getting ready for our Early Learning Program. We are delighted to welcome our newest member, Mrs. Deanna Guajardo, whose expertise and assistance are much appreciated! Our updates to the library include rearranged shared spaces, a new three-story dollhouse, a literacy tower, and a large shipment of brand new board books. We have been diligently preparing for our first classes, which will resume on Wednesday, September 4th. We are eagerly looking forward to reuniting with our friends and Gobbler families!

This project is committed to promoting literacy and a love for reading among all members of the community. As part of this effort, the district has book stations and offers free books to families visiting the Cuero Medical Clinic and Parkside Family Clinic. In addition we provided community outreach and participated in the Cuero Downtown Farmer's Market on August 24, 2024.

Overall, the book distribution program was a great success, and we are proud to be able to provide free resources to families in our community. Over 1,800 books were distributed during the month of August for children and their families to start or add to their very own personal library.

Book counts are as follows:

• Medical Clinics Mobile Book Stations : 456 Books
• JCF/Hunt Campus Distribution: books: 781
• Community Outreach: 176 books
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program (children ages 0-4): 343 Books
• Early Learning Program (children ages 0-3): 62 Books

Ruby Rodriguez, M.Ed. ~ Director of Special Programs

Katy Botello ~ Literacy Coach

Deanna Guajardo~ Literacy Coach Aide

Charlene Murphree, M.Ed. ~ Literacy Coach Assistant

Stephanie Sanders ~ John C. French Library Manager

Bonnie Garza ~ Hunt Library Manager

Jessie Salazar ~ Junior High Library Manager

Marie Galloway ~ High School Library Manager

Website: cueroisd.org
Location: 960 East Broadway Street, Cuero, TX, USA
Phone: 361-275-1900
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cueroisd