At ribbon-cuttings on Oct. 23, officials from St. Luke’s University Health Network presented more than 1,000 age-appropriate books to Quakertown Elementary School and to the Head Start program, located at Neidig Elementary School, to encourage and enhance students’ personal enjoyment and academic growth through reading.
The network also provided Neidig Elementary School’s Neidig Nook and the Mindfulness Room with items to promote relaxation in these calming havens for students and teachers to practice self-regulation, mindfulness and self-calming techniques during the school day.
“The entire Neidig teaching team appreciates St. Luke’s generosity and support,” said Scott Godshalk, Neidig principal. “These rooms provide our school community with a space and the resources to take care of themselves so they can, in turn, take care of others.”
SLUHN chose to support literacy enhancement and mental/behavioral health based on needs identified in 2022’s Community Health Needs Assessment for the region, which also found that access to medical care is a major challenge throughout the county.
According to Kelsey Gasper, St. Luke’s Community Health Initiatives coordinator, the books promote STEAM careers and careers in health care, effective communication skills, how to be healthy both in body and mind, and how to celebrate what makes us all unique.
In addition to the library at Quakertown Elementary and Head Start at Neidig, the books are available through a vending machine at Quakertown Elementary, where students can access them as rewards for good behavior and academic performance.
“The bookshelf and books will open the doors to a world of imagination, nurture a love for reading and empower our educators to meet the literacy needs of our students,” added Brian Karabinos, Head Start supervisor.
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