5 graduate from Family Literacy Program

The CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program’s five Adult Course participants and 12 Story Exploring Class participants pose with parent trainer Bryan Manabat and Story Exploring instructor Margarita Sugaste at the conclusion of the programs last Monday at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program celebrated another beautiful completion ceremony at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library last Monday, Jan. 25.

Five parents participated in the Adult Course facilitated by parent trainer Bryan Manabat. The parents who completed the class were as follows: Vivian Soh, Su Jung Kim, So Yang Kim, Sangwon Lim, and Heeseung Oh.

A total of 12 children participated in the children’s Story Exploring Class facilitated by Story Exploring instructor Margarita Sugaste.

The children who participated in this fun-filled class were as follows: Jii Lee, Dustin Hyun, Davina Chae, Tae Young Lee, Kyun Ha Ju, Jessica Yao Mu, Justin Yao Mu, Serim Woo, Sena Woo, Keziah P. Manabat, Alejandra P. Manabat, and Ronald P. Manabat.

Since Nov. 30, 2015, a series of eight Motheread/Fatheread classes were conducted in the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s Children of Our Homeland Center. Highlights of this holiday season class include: Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc.’s friendship bracelet and distribution of a personalized bookmark highlighting its JKPL schedule and a distribution of the newly designed CNMI Motheread/Fatheread incentive giveaways.

Motheread/Fatheread is a nationally acclaimed community based program administered by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council. Parents and children learn to use the power of children’s literature to improve their own reading skills, to explore challenging family issues, and to foster empowerment in their daily lives.

The Motheread/Fatheread Program provides opportunities for all parents—regardless of their educational background or previous experience to be a reading role model for children by developing their children’s reading, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.

The Motheread/Fatheread Program targets families with parents, but is open to any adult—or grandparent, godparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, et—who has a passion for literacy and who is willing to share a first-rate literacy experience with children in their family or community.

While parents attend the Adult Course, their children (Ages 3-11) are invited to participate in a Story Exploring Class. All courses are taught in English. All Motheread/Fatheread books are written in English, with some translations in Chamorro, Carolinian, and Spanish. In addition to its curricula, Motheread/Fatheread offers a financial literacy class in partnership with the Bank of Hawaii, as well as, the Eagle Books series—upon availability— which is a series of four books that is used to promote literacy and a healthy lifestyle geared toward diabetes prevention. Venues are held in local libraries, public and private schools, Head Start centers, youth/community centers, juvenile detention/adult correctional facilities, homes, apartments, and private business throughout the CNMI.

With that being said, the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program cordially invites you to participate in their free adult course and Children’s Story Exploring Class! This spring, CNMI Motheread/Fatheread will be jumpstarting into the Head Start Centers. On Feb. 9, 2016, at 5:30pm, classes will be held at the San Antonio Head Start Center and the Chalan Kanoa Head Start Center. On Feb. 10, 2016, 5:30pm classes will be held at Oleai Head Start Center, Joaquina M. Rabauliman Head Start Center (JMR-Garapan), while Tanapag Head Start Center will be at 5pm. And finally on Feb. 11, 2016 at 5:30pm classes will be held at Kagman Head Start Center and Dan Dan Head Start Center.

If you cannot wait to start classes in February, then head on down to Kagman, because an ongoing class at the Kagman Elementary School is currently being held every Wednesday at 5pm in the school’s library.

Let’s get this literacy party started and sign up today, CNMI! Visit us on facebook at CNMI Motheread/Fatheread or call our office conveniently located in the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library at 235-7319.