Summary: Story Walk installation in two locations in Sioux City, Iowa to support literacy development.
Literacy has been identified as a community priority in Sioux City, Iowa, specifically, a report from the Sioux City Public School System identified that fewer than 20% of pre-school children who were on their way to Kindergarten, were fully prepared to learn. Knowing this, a collaborative group of organizations that have come together to support brain development amongst the 0 to 3 age group. It is shown that 95% of the child's brain is formed in the first six years of life and a child's experiences irreversibly affect how the brain develops-for better or worse. The Rotary Club of Sioux City is proposing to install two story walks along popular trails to encourage parents/caregivers to include language and literacy development as they use these paths with young children. The funds will be used to purchase the signboards themselves. These signboards, spaced along a walking path, will include single pages from children's story books that adults can read to very young children or have children read to them as they stroll down the path. The story pages will be in both English and Spanish. Each of the signboards will include a sticker that identifies that these are a project or the Rotary Club of Sioux City with the Rotary International emblem. Rotary club members will be engaged during the installation of the storyboards and in maintaining them over the years. Our intent is to install one in summer of 2021 and then a second one in the summer of 2022. In following years Sioux City Rotary will continue to support this project by updating the story pages contained in the story walk on a monthly basis. One specific goal of this project is to provide an activity, that is accessible to all and supports adult/child interactions, while supporting the brain development, education and literacy.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
The scope of this project was reduced to the installation of one Storywalk and not hte anticipated two that we had hoped for. We had intended one additional install as a part of the riverfront project, but the City of Sioux City decided that it was not an addition to be made to that project at this time. The Spalding Park projecte is complete and the final report with receipts will be submitted.
Paid
This project is "Paid". This means that the funds from the district have been issued. This project is now being ready for implementation. When this is done, a report needs to be uploaded on the project page and the "Reported" button needs to be clicked, then the status of the project will be changed to "Reported".
Deleted Bruce Young and Tracy Dahl-Webb as signatories
3-Aug-20
by Bruce A Young
Initial review of applications complete - No further questions at this time. We will let you know when we have completed our approval process.
6-Oct-20
by Bruce A Young
System Entry: Project approved by the District Approval Committee.
20-Oct-20
by Steve Sikorski
System Entry: Check for DDF payment issued by Foundation Treasurer.
16-May-21
by Kevin Grieme
The PAID status is correct. This project was delayed due to COVID, but we are now moving forward with purchasing of supplies and a plan for installation between July-September 2021.
2-Dec-21
by Kevin Grieme
We have purchased the storywalkk boards and have received them. We are currently working with the City of Sioux City to get final permission. We were originally assured that all we needed to do was to submit a donation approval form and we would be able to move forward. AFter having submitted that in August, and while reviewing they have developed a requirement that we complete an environmental scan of the site and also provide insurance. I have sent a request and informaiton to District 5610 through Nicole Rawden to see if this typy of insurance is included with what we currently have, or is it necessary to have a waver. This was done in September and we have not heard back from them. Our plans now are for an early spring installation and completion of the storywalk.
16-Jun-22
by Kevin Grieme
This project is planned to be completed by mid-July. The committee is currently waiting for confirmation of availability of needed equipment to get the final installation date set.
2-Feb-23
by Kevin Grieme
Currently looking for a more permanent sign that will promote Sioux City Rotary as the provider of the storywalk.
Working on financial update for submission.
2-Nov-23
by Kevin Grieme
This project has been completed and the final report will be submitted, including the requested receipts.