WEST ORANGE, NJ - At the beginning of the school year, the Principal Marie DeMaio set the bar high for staff with an important mission: Washington Elementary School is Changing the World Through Literacy. 

Principal Marie DeMaio and Reading Specialist Wendi Giuliano spent countless hours developing and outlining the plan to make literacy development and delivery a priority at Washington School.  Monthly activities and training have been scheduled to increase literacy practices and skills.

November is Family Literacy Month and families were encouraged to visit the School Literacy Center. The School Literary Center showcased the Digital Literacy Learning Lab (DL3) that was created by Giuliano last year. 

“We created this digital lab to assist parents," Giuliano began.

"It has all the materials necessary to support our language arts curriculum as well as tutorials and other reading/literacy essentials.It is easy to use, engaging and fun!”

A QR Code was provided for all families so that the DL3 is easily accessible and students have learning at their fingertips. Other areas that were addressed at the Literacy Center included: 

• Understanding the importance of a team approach to literacy. 
• Realizing that 15 minutes a day of reading aloud with your child WILL make a difference.
• Getting to know faces in our school community and encouraging seeking answers and suggestions for home support.
• Providing parents/guardians and families with free resources and access to books that they can read aloud before bedtime or anytime!

The families' responses have been very positive and Principal DeMaio and the staff are looking forward to more exciting opportunities in the coming months.