“This was a great chance for our teachers to interact with some of current and future students about literacy and how important it is to be a successful student.” — Matthew Record, Pocomoke Middle School Principal

Students loved getting to choose a new book as the school gets underway in the Pocomoke community Wednesday, August 30th at the community’s inaugural Pocomoke Rock the Block community event.

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. — The Eastern Shore Reading Council (ESRC) partnered with Pocomoke Middle School (PMS) and Pocomoke High School (PHS) to promote literacy in its youth in its respective community at the schools’ back to school Block Party Thursday evening. The Council offered each visitor choice of one book of their liking to take home to read with a parent or trusted adult.

“There are so many positive attributes in the Pocomoke community, but literacy is one of those pieces that doesn’t get highlighted enough,” ESRC member Brian Cook indicated as he assisted children and parents on which books to take home with the help of fellow Council member Hannah Poist. “Every student in our school community needs exposed to literature at an early age. This gives us a great opportunity to speak with our future Warriors about what they are reading at home and help guide parents about reading with their children.”

One Pocomoke student shows off his newest books given to him by the Eastern Shore Reading Council.

Pocomoke Principals Annette Wallace, high school, and Matthew Record, middle school, estimated 600 people throughout visited with teachers, community organizations, and the ESRC.

“I don’t know why we never thought of handing books out in the past,” Record indicated when speaking of the planning to implement the two-school event. “This was a great chance for our teachers to interact with some of current and future students about literacy and how important it is to be a successful student. I hope we can continue allowing the [Eastern Shore] Reading Council to be active in the Pocomoke area.”

For further information about the ESRC and its outreach efforts, visit the web site at easternshoreliteracyassociation.wordpress.com.