What:
"Code Read" Program (Reading Enforcement and Development)

When:
Tuesday, March 19, 2002
12:45 p.m.

Where:
Sylvan Street School, 6238 Noble Avenue, Van Nuys

Who:
Eighty (80) Sylvan Street School First-Graders and Los Angeles Police Officers

Los Angeles: Officers from the Community Relations Office of Van Nuys Area Community Police Station have come up with an idea to encourage kids to read. The officers have picked a school for a pilot program that they hope will grow and encourage many kids to start reading. The pilot program school is Sylvan Street School in Van Nuys.

Pursuant to the new program, LAPD officers were given the opportunity to buy designated books for $5.00 and give them to first graders at Sylvan School. Once all of the books are purchased, the officers will autograph the books for the eighty (80) first graders. Officers will add personal notes of encouragement to each student on the inside cover of the books and then present the books to the students.

In addition to the personalized book, the entire first grade class will receive a "class" book. An officer will read the first chapter of the "class book" to the first graders. The teacher will continue reading up to the last chapter. An officer will then return to the school and read the last chapter of the "class book" to the kids.

The media is invited to attend the first day of the "CODE READ" Program Sylvan Street School.

Public Information Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section prepared this Media Advisory, 213-485-3586.