This file contains reports and feedback from Agents in the field, documenting Mission Respect’s continuing campaign in schools throughout the country.

WARNING: The following documents are for your eyes only.

REPORT ON TEEN READING CLUB

Paul Sleem from Mission Respect launched a phenomenal reading programme, which involves Cedar Mount High School students Ursula Benning, Rebekah Slater, Kelly Bezzina and Daniel Ashton becoming Teen Reading Agents to primary school pupils, encouraging and motivating them to gain an interest in reading.

Research suggests a number of children do not enjoy reading or think they do not. Year 10 and 11 Citizenship students are doing a great honour to these young people. Every Thursday after school they take time out from their own free time and travel to St. Chrysostom Primary School.

The club is based in a classroom in which two teachers from Cedar Mount supervise and give their support; we work in both the classroom and the library at our leisure. Refreshments are provided, the atmosphere is light, friendly, and fun and the Cedar Mount students are very well behaved, mature and dedicated.

Mission Respect has produced a booklet with which the students engage in activities each week helping them to get to know each other. The programme runs for six weeks however our students have continued beyond this time and at the moment we have no idea when they want to stop! The younger children have stated they want the programme to last longer than six weeks because they enjoy the club and will miss their reading agents!

Rebekah Slater & Tahren Thompson

The benefits of this programme:
   Pupils feel far more confident in attempting to read out aloud
   Helping young readers enhance their literacy skills
   Help build self- esteem and enjoy reading for pleasure
   Confidence to read individually on a day-to-day basis
   Reading Agents have FUN.

Kelly Bezzina & Craig Nyarambi

Daniel Ashton (Cedar Mount student) interviewed
Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Jackson at St. Chyrsostoms.

Daniel: “How do you feel about the reading club so far?”
Mrs Jackson: “Brilliant – I really like the way the pupils of different ages have interacted. It has been a pleasure to watch them enjoy reading.”

Daniel: “Do you think this programme has improved the children’s reading?”
Mrs Jackson: “Yes, it has given them something to look forward to and motivated them to read.”

Daniel: “Do you want this to carry on in the future?”
Mrs Jackson: “Yes please! I would like to involve other pupils from the younger year groups.”

Daniel Ashton

All too often we hear stories of failures of inner city children disengaged from their communities. This community project is testimony to the real values and sense of responsibility and engagement our young people feel towards each other. Given the opportunity to rise to the challenges, they succeed with flying colours.

Report Filed by
Miss Vanessa Thompson and Mr Braithwaite
of Cedar Mount High School