A community literacy lab at Southeast High School opens Thursday, thanks to a $100,000 investment from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF).
The grand opening ceremony is open to all and begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The goals of the center are in sync with community-wide efforts to promote literacy. In July, officials from Whitfield County Schools, Dalton Public Schools, Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, and Dalton City Council jointly pledged their support to improve literacy in the community.
“This literacy lab provides us with the resources to expand support for students and extend that support into the community,” Principal Karey Williams said. “We hope the wave of excitement for literacy that began during the summer will continue to build momentum as this resource begins helping our students and community to achieve their goals.”
The Raider Nation Literacy Lab will bring the Internet, computer technology, and books together, expanding access to information to students and adults in the community. Goals for the Center include enhancing individual’s resource skills, provide opportunities for lifelong learning, and develop technical abilities to help visitors develop workforce skills.
The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation grant provided funding to outfit an existing space within the school to offer students and community members access to computers and the Internet along with other resources they may not have readily available. The Literacy Lab will be used by students during the regular school day and staffed with volunteers at other times to accommodate parents and family members in the community.
The mission at Southeast is to increase student learning by providing students and staff with educational experiences in a safe and supportive environment. The teachers and staff believe in the school district’s innovative unified focus regarding students, their parents, and the community at large.
“Lowe’s is committed to recognizing and supporting efforts that enrich the lives of our neighbors and customers,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “By supporting schools like Southeast Whitfield High School, we believe we are contributing to a cause that’s important to our customers and employees and helping build a stronger foundation for the children who will be tomorrow’s employees, homeowners and community leaders.”
Since its inception in 1957, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has helped communities nationwide through employee volunteerism and financial contributions. In 2010, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support community and education projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico.