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WSIU, Local School to Host 100 Days of School Event

Katie Dumper, WSIU

For Immediate Release

Monday, January 26, 2015

Contacts: Cassie Burgess, Principal, North Side Primary Center - Herrin, Ill., (618) 942-5418; Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595; Irena Just, Asst. Dir. And Children's Librarian, Herrin City Library, (618) 942-6109

WSIU, Local School to Host 100 Days of School Event

Event is Thursday, January 29 at North Side Primary in Herrin

Carbondale, Ill. -- North Side Primary Center in Herrin, Ill. has partnered with WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, to help Herrin teachers and families build kids' math skills at a 100 Days of School Event. The event will take place this Thursday, January 29 from 5:30-7pm at North Side Primary, 601 North 17th Street in Herrin, Illinois.

WSIU will host a reading and math skill-building session in the school's computer lab. Families are invited to bring their own mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to experiment and to download free educational game apps from PBS KIDS. The school, Parent-Teacher Organization, and community volunteers will organize activities, including videos, mobile apps, and stories. Families are invited to watch, play, explore, and learn while interacting with other families, teachers, and members of the community.

The 100th Day of School is a momentous occasion that North Side Primary Center and WSIU are celebrating with the installation of new mobile learning resources, including a laptop computer, smart cart, and 25 tablet devices. A Ready To Learn grant award to WSIU powers the new technology for teaching and learning.

“Research shows that it's vital that we start building children's math and reading skills from a young age to help them succeed in school and in life,” said Cassie Burgess, Principal of North Side Primary Center. “Through our 100th Day of School effort in partnership with our local public broadcasting station WSIU, we are helping educators and families support early math learning for the kids in Herrin.”

Educators and parents will use interactive PBS KIDS Lab resources for kids, including video clips, digital and hands-on games and activities, to engage parents and educators and extend learning both inside and outside the classroom. These resources are available at pbskids.org/learn.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.

WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

About North Side Primary Center

North Side Primary Center (NSPC) in Herrin, Illinois consists of more than 500 children in eight kindergarten classes and eight first grade classrooms with highly qualified experienced faculty. Supporting staff members include reading specialists, social worker/counselor, nurse, speech therapists, and interventionists/classroom assistants. NSPC's faculty has expertise in instruction and planning that meet state-mandated Core Curriculum Standards. The school's teachers are diligent about intertwining the mandated criteria into the curriculum in order to support students' achievement.

NSPC also houses the state Pre-K program, which serves students from 3-5 years of age and follows Illinois Early Learning Standards. The Pre-K program has three classrooms each, with both a morning and afternoon session, and offers early childhood classes for special needs students who are enrolled.

For more information, please visit www.herrinnorth.org or call (618) 942-5418. For information about the NSPC's Pre-K program, please call (618) 997-0137.

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