Central celebrates reading accomplishment
Published 8:38 am Wednesday, October 21, 2015
On Friday, students at Central Elementary School celebrated their accomplishment of reading 9,045 books since the beginning of the school year.
Dr. Dawn Taylor, 7th and 8th grade language arts teacher, organized the event which featured an awards ceremony for the top readers from each grade. ETSU track, volleyball, football and basketball athletes presented 20 awards with mascot Bucky.
“I’m hoping that this will instill a lifelong love for and practice of reading,” said Taylor.
The goal was for students to read 20 minutes per day of any book of their choosing, and children that cannot read yet could be read to, giving them exposure to the stories and characters within books.
They also had a cookout, toured a fire truck, saw Wings land and enjoyed yogurt and sorbet from Menchie’s while visiting with mascot Mr. Menchie. Happy Valley high cheerleaders and high school band came as well to celebrate.
Taylor’s 7th and 8th grade classes read a combined 5,600 books.
“Good readers have opportunities to have more successful lives, but besides that, a book can get you through all kinds of times–sickness and happy times too,” said Taylor. “There will be times that they grow up and are alone and having a friend in a book character can help get them through that.