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The Department has moved to 135 Santilli Highway in Everett. The Department's office and Licensure Welcome Center are open. The new location has free parking and is a short walk from the Wellington station on the MBTA's Orange Line.
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
Contact:Lynn Boston

New Bedford Elementary Students Receive Books as part of State's "Spread The Word" Book Distribution Program

Malden - On Wednesday, February 3, two hundred and three K-3 students at the Mount Pleasant Elementary School in New Bedford will be receiving a special gift from the students, parents and faculty at the Whitman Middle School in Whitman -- more than 1100 books that they have collected for them. Each K-3 student at the Mt. Pleasant School will receive 5 books to take home and keep as part of the state's Spread the Word book distribution program that gives books to children who have few books at home, from other children who no longer need the books. The Spread the Word program was initiated in 1995 by then Lt. Governor Paul Cellucci and his wife, Jan. This program, now coordinated by the Massachusetts Department of Education, will deliver 60,000 books to 12,000 students in eleven school districts. Schools with students designated to receive books are identified based on results of the 1998 Iowa Grade 3 Reading Test. Schools that reported the highest percentage of students reading at low levels were selected to receive books this year. In addition to New Bedford, students at schools in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Springfield and Worcester are receiving books this year. Schools with students designated to receive books are identified based on results of the 1998 Iowa Grade 3 Reading Test. Schools that reported the highest percentage of students reading at low levels were selected to receive books this year. In addition to Boston, students at schools in Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford Springfield, and Worcester are receiving books this year. Massachusetts Commissioner of Education David P. Driscoll said, "Students need to read well if they are to be successful in school. Children who own books and read them at home are more likely to become proficient readers. The Spread the Word program helps, and I am pleased that it makes a difference." The coordinators for the Wednesday morning delivery are: Mt. Pleasant Principal Alberto Molina, 508-997-4511 x2238; and Lisa Amadei and Judy Litwak, both Language Arts teachers at the Whitman Middle School, 781-447-7035. For more information on the Spread the Word program, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Education website at www.doe.mass.edu.



Last Updated: February 3, 1999



 
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