Get ready to embark on a magical reading adventure with our Winter Reading Challenge, powered by C5. Starting from December 1, 2023, until January 26, 2024, we're daring your child to complete all 25 challenges and read like a wizard. Once finished, color in the matching characters and turn it in to their librarian, teacher, Boys & Girls Club staff member, READ Ambassador, Save the Children Program Coordinator, or submit the completed sheet online. And guess what? They'll be in the running for a seriously awesome prize! So, clear your schedule and let's dive into this epic challenge. We can't wait to see their bookish brilliance shine!
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KINDERGARTEN READINESS
All children in Cocke County will enter kindergarten ready to learn. Currently, 52.5% of incoming students meet the benchmark for kindergarten readiness in Cocke County. C-5's goal for 2023 is that 57% will meet this goal. Additionally, 32.7% of children with no early childhood education experience reach this standard. Our goal for 2023 is to see an increase of 4.5% in this priority area.
3RD GRADE LITERACY
All students in Cocke County will be proficient in reading by third grade. Currently, 29% of Cocke County students meet or exceed expectations on the English Language Arts TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program). C-5's goal for 2023 is that 39% of students meet this benchmark for understanding. Also, 25.95% of economically disadvantaged students currently meet this benchmark with the goal that there will be a 10% increase with this group of priority students.
COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS
All students in Cocke County will graduate high school ready for success. The State of Tennessee introduced an updated indicator of success called Ready Graduate in 2019. Ready Graduate recognizes high school graduates that demonstrate readiness for postsecondary education, training programs, and/or workforce entry. Success looks different for every student and we support the full spectrum in all our students! Currently, 26.2% of Cocke County graduates meet this new benchmark with a goal that 2023 will have an increase of 2%. Additionally, with our economically disadvantaged students, 12.9% attain this recognition. C-5 aims to see an increase of 2% here.
During the month of September, the Cocke County Cradle to Career Coalition (C-5) participated in a Hunger Action Month awareness campaign with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee by hosting an onsite and virtual food drive to collect peanut butter for Cocke County food pantries.
Peanut butter is one of the most frequently requested items by food banks because it is kid-friendly, shelf-stable and protein-rich. For nut allergy families, sunflower butter was also collected. Several community partners participated in the food drive including First United Methodist Church of Newport, Phoenix Packaging, Cocke County Partnership, Newport Grammar School and many individuals across the county.
After the donation bins had been counted and weighed, Cocke County citizens donated a total of 1,863 pounds of shelf-stable food during the month of September. This equates to about 1,552 meals for local households who are facing food insecurity.
C-5 also wants to give a special shoutout and thanks to the staff and students at Newport Grammar School for their extraordinary efforts. Newport Grammar School offered a pizza party to the class that brought in the most jars of peanut butter. Coming in first place was Cindy Witt’s class, which collected 422 jars of peanut butter. Karen Chambers’ class collected an impressive 337 jars of peanut butter.
Peanut butter is one of the most frequently requested items by food banks because it is kid-friendly, shelf-stable and protein-rich. For nut allergy families, sunflower butter was also collected. Several community partners participated in the food drive including First United Methodist Church of Newport, Phoenix Packaging, Cocke County Partnership, Newport Grammar School and many individuals across the county.
After the donation bins had been counted and weighed, Cocke County citizens donated a total of 1,863 pounds of shelf-stable food during the month of September. This equates to about 1,552 meals for local households who are facing food insecurity.
C-5 also wants to give a special shoutout and thanks to the staff and students at Newport Grammar School for their extraordinary efforts. Newport Grammar School offered a pizza party to the class that brought in the most jars of peanut butter. Coming in first place was Cindy Witt’s class, which collected 422 jars of peanut butter. Karen Chambers’ class collected an impressive 337 jars of peanut butter.
Working alongside families, schools, and communities to support children across Cocke County.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE JOURNEY!
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE JOURNEY!