A celebration of reading continued through the week of March 2 as Palmyra’s Charles Street School hosted several guest speakers who read classic tales.
As part of the National Education’s Read Across America Day — better known as the birthday of Dr. Suess — the school spent the week reinforcing a love of reading.
“You know how I feel about kindness and reading is right up there with it,” said Charles Street School Principal Christopher Tracey. “I shared with the students on Monday that when I was 4 or 5, I lived next to a public library and I remember getting my library card and taking out every Dr. Suess book they had.
“Like many of us, I learned how to read from Dr. Suess books,” Tracey added. “I had an early love of reading and I became an English teacher because of my love for reading. I was lucky to have many people like my parents that fostered that love.
“I think it’s important to help foster that love of reading here”
The week of celebration started off with a large assembly on Monday. The students wore their blue Charles Street School shirts and Mayor Gina Tait presented a proclamation in regard to reading.
On Tuesday, students dressed up as Cat in the Hat or wore Red. Wednesday was crazy hat or crazy sock day, with students dressed as their favorite author or book character Thursday and Friday. Students dressed as what they want to be when they grow up or wore college or university gear.
The week’s guest readers included high school faculty, board of education members, superintendents and local authors.
“Friday is also Principal Challenge Day,” Tracey noted. “The former principal during his last year had to sleep on the roof. The students have to read a certain amount of books and they seem to reach it every year. Last year, I competed with Superintendent Brian McBride rollerskating throughout the building.
“This year we are doing a scavenger hunt,” the principal added. “I’m not sure what it is, but I just said I don’t want to eat any bugs.”
According to Tracey, the best part of the weeklong celebration is the culminating event: the reading train. The event allows family members to come into the school at 2 p.m., sit in the hallway and read to their children
“It’s a sight to see,” said Tracey. “It’s a big reading train and literally every inch of the floor is covered with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles sitting with their child and reading.
“It’s a wonderful thing.”
