South Whittier School District celebrated National Read Across America week from Monday, February 26, to Thursday, March 1, at every school in the district to show students the importance of reading and how it can advance their educational success.
Each school held different events every day of the week that emphasized the success and excitement that reading can bring. Some events that took place in South Whittier were Silly String the Principal, school wide read out, Thing 1 and Thing 2 Twin Day, special guest readers, and a carnival.
Silly String the Principal took place at McKibben Elementary and allowed all students that met their AR goals to silly string their principal, Sandra Gallegos. Multiple schools across the district held school wide read outs that would bring all students together to read a book. Lake Marie had special guests come visit classrooms and read to students. Guests included Lake Marie’s librarian and South Whittier Board President, Jan Baird. McKibben ended their week with a carnival where every student got to dress up as their favorite story book character and every classroom was in charge of operating a game. There was a petting zoo, food, cupcake walk, and many other game booths.
Read Across America takes place the week of Dr. Suess' birthday and began with the sole purpose to motivate students to read. This celebration of reading was started by the National Education Association. They started the nation wide program with the knowledge that “Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school.”