The fourth-graders at Montello Elementary School gather round as L/A Arts’ Executive Director Andrew Harris and Education Coordinator Tara Lagana accept Bank of America’s foundation grant check from Roxanne Gorham, Auburn’s Court Street banking center manager.

L/A Arts gets grant for Readers Theatre

LEWISTON – L/A Arts has received a $5,000 grant from Bank of America’s Charitable Foundation Inc.

The monies will go toward the Readers Theatre program, an initiative in its second year, aimed at enhancing reading comprehension, refining reading fluency, developing stronger communication skills and boosting the self-confidence and self-esteem of young elementary students.

This year, fourth-grade students in three elementary schools in Lewiston (Martel, Farwell and Montello) and six in Auburn (Washburn, East Auburn, Park Avenue, Sherwood Heights, Walton and Fairview) will participate in Readers Theatre.

Each classroom involved with the project will receive an introductory performance by the L/A Arts’ Readers Theatre troupe and three classroom workshops. In addition, educators will have the opportunity to participate in a professional development workshop on Readers Theatre.

The funding insures that the program will meet its goals for each of the schools.