Prairie City School students in kindergarten, first and second grades, and some of the adult volunteers in the SMART program gather May 4 for an end of the year celebration. The program, which runs from October through May, is a national and statewide nonprofit that empowers children to have more success through books and reading. Adults involved in the program, in the photo, back row from left, are: Marge Walton, Bee Lim, Pastor Michael Harvey, Jen Jacobs and Sabrina Howard.

The SMART — Start Making a Reader Today — program is giving students at Prairie City School another opportunity to learn the joy of reading.

Superintendent/Principal Julie Gurczynski said the school has an extensive Title I program that helps students in specific areas of reading, and the SMART program gives the kids an opportunity to read for pleasure with an adult volunteer, building a healthy relationship with them.

“For many of our students, building those adult connections is very important,” she said. “It just takes one positive adult in a student’s life to make a huge impact.”

SMART volunteers are in currently in short supply.

Michael Harvey is in his third year volunteering with the program at Prairie City, and is the SMART program coordinator this year. He said there are six volunteers, so far, and 10 more would ensure that each student involved in the program has his or her own volunteer.

The program, which runs October through May, starts Monday, Oct. 24.

Students read with their volunteer from 8:05-8:45 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays in a room set aside for the program at the school.

Harvey, who is a pastor at Grace Chapel in Prairie City, said the children he’s worked with look forward to that reading time.

“I like how happy they are when they come into the room,” he said. “SMART Reader really builds an excitement for reading. They love it, and they have free choice of what they want to read.”

Students are given two new books a month to take home to build their personal library and involve their parents.

Harvey said he enjoyed reading to his two sons when they were little. One of their favorites was “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown, and it’s also a popular choice for the children involved in the SMART program. Dr. Seuss books are among other top choices.

Harvey recalled reading with a first-grade boy last year and how after Christmas break the boy said he missed him.

“It’s the best 45 minutes you can spend with a child,” Harvey said.

To learn how to become a volunteer, contact Harvey at 541-620-4198.

More information and a link to volunteer can also be found at getsmartoregon.org.

Volunteers receive a background check, and parent permission is asked before children start the program.