Service group assists preschool, elementary youth

Each Wednesday a group of 10-12 Mt. Scott High School students report to SE Y Arts Education Center to assist in the childcare of infants and toddlers with licensed childcare providers.

Students receive instruction in the proper care and recreation methods and participate in a range of activities with newborns, toddlers and pre-school aged children. Students also assist in facility maintenance and upkeep.

After the morning service at Y Arts, students board a bus and participate in the Start Making A Reader Today (SMART) program at Whitman Elementary in SE Portland.

SMART is Oregon's leading volunteer program dedicated to early literacy. It is a book and reading program for kindergarten through third grade children who are at risk of low literacy and its associated negative outcomes.

Each SMART volunteer reads with two children for a half-hour each, one hour a week during the school year. SMART also gives participating students two new books each month to take home, keep and read with their families.