Quite a few "ooohs" could be heard from the happy students at St. Michael Elementary School April 3 --- and with good reason.

They had just learned, at the end of their First Friday Mass, that language arts teacher Catherine Marin had been chosen from among 200 applicants for a $1,500 "reading award" grant from City National Bank. The grant, part of the bank's "Reading is the Way Up" program, rewards 20 schools and their instructors "for their dedication and innovation for trying to make schools better for kids, so that you will be future leaders of our country," said Jason Olds, City National Senior vice president.

In her application, titled "Learning to Read for Enjoyment," Marin indicated that the South Los Angeles school had only 300 books in its library, and had not purchased any new library books since 2004. With the new books, students from K-8 "will have more choices in the library, which will increase the chance they find books that interest them. Children need to be able to explore ideas, visualize their readings, and expand their thinking."

Marin, who teaches grades 6-8, feels strongly that her students deserve more. "Most of the books have been donated by families in the school and there isn't much there," she said. "Students once a week bring in books from home and can trade them for another book. We really need more resource materials. The encyclopedia set is an old one."

The children at St. Michael School live in a very dangerous area, she noted. "The school is a safe haven for these students. They can come to school and not worry. I enjoy working with these children. It allows me to work with the children and make a difference in their lives, even if it is one-at-a-time."

St. Michael principal Jim McMains led the visitors from City National on a tour of the library and the "Writing to Read" computer lab, furnished by the Richard Riordan Foundation. He pointed toward the tables holding books brought in by students for trading. Most were very worn and read by many students. He added that the clean, well-painted hallways and classrooms were the work of parents.

Carolyn Rodriguez, City National Bank VP and manager of its teacher grant program, called "Reading is the Way Up" a literacy initiative. "We receive over 200 applications [each year] and these men are part of a committee that reviews all of the applications," she said. "We look for those that have demonstrated a need or a creative way to enhance literacy and improve student achievement and sustainability - it's the simple need for books and increased accessibility."

Only 300 books for the entire school, Rodriguez added, "doesn't go very far. We support a print-rich environment and we are more than thrilled to come here. We want reading to be enjoyable."

McMains said faculty and staff place a priority on the learning environment. "We are trying to bring back that thrill of reading," he said, noting that "quiet reading" periods have been added and the school is looking at extending its school year.

Two other Catholic schools in the archdiocese were chosen for "Reading is the Way Up" grants of $500 each:

---St. Ignatius School, Highland Park, for the project "Books R Us," submitted by librarian Roberta Garcia for a book reading club now in its second year that encourages grades 4-8 to read.

---St. Ferdinand School, San Fernando, for "Language Arts Enchancement," submitted by librarian Deborah Roberts for purchase of updated books and DVDs to supplement the school's literature program for grades 6-8.