GrahamThompson Gives Gift of Reading

Nassau, The Bahamas – In October, GrahamThompson presented books to every fourth grade student of the Uriah McPhee Primary School.

During the 2018 – 2019 school year, when these students would have been third graders, GrahamThompson attorney and staff volunteers read to students weekly.

The 2019 – 2020 academic year begins GrahamThompson’s third school year with Uriah McPhee Primary. A collaboration facilitated by The Volunteer Reading Project, including weekly reading to third grade students and an annual Literacy Day in February, when GrahamThompson volunteers read to each of the school’s classes from kindergarten to sixth grade.

The partnership with Uriah McPhee Primary is a very special one for the firm. “It’s probably one of the most enjoyable things you can do in any work week”, explains GrahamThompson Managing Partner, Judy Whitehead. “We sit with them, we get to know the kids, and we introduce them to a love of reading, a love of stories”. She adds, “we go through comprehension exercises, so that this is something that helps them in their own development”.

Third grade students throughout The Bahamas are required to take a General Learning Assessment Test (GLAT), a national academic standard that includes reading and comprehension exercises. For this reason, the third grade is a targeted group for this volunteer reading initiative. The School sees the weekly reading by GrahamThompson volunteers as an added assist to students’ preparation for the exam.

GrahamThompson gifted last year’s third graders with books covering a wide range of titles, including a number of Dr. Seuss titles, classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach; plus other fun titles like Ada Twist Scientist, and Jabari Jumps; plus chapter books like Jaden Toussaint, The Greatest, which features the exploits of “a five year old scientist and all around cool dude”; and the Dyamonde Daniel series which features a third-grader described as “a little girl with a big personality”. Gift books also included National Geographic Kids titles, including subjects about sports and outer space; and a host of other titles. GrahamThompson’s hope is that students continue to enjoy a love of reading and storytelling into the fourth grade and beyond.

GrahamThompson’s volunteer reading continues at Uriah McPhee Primary School with the school’s 2019-2020 third graders.