Improving Literacy Is The Goal At Dennison Memorial

Literacy is the focus this summer at Dennison Memorial Community Center in New Bedford's South End.

Speaking on WBSM's Townsquare Sunday, Dennison President Jim Mathes says the Center is working with the New Bedford School Department this summer. Teachers are being assigned to Dennison to help children maintain and improve their reading skills.

"The focus that we want there is for the kids to be reading throughout the summer so they don't have what's called the "Summer Slide," where they leave school in June and go back in September and they haven't done any reading," says Mathes. "Their reading skills when they get tested, they've actually lost a little bit."

Mathes says regular staff members are also leading seperate reading programs as well.

There is currently no charge to join Dennison Memorial.

Mathes says Dennison has more than 400 members, and there are more than 100 children in the building each day, taking part in sports, education, and recreation programs.