Newton Parrish Elementary School loves reading. So to kick off “I Love to Read,” students and staff gathered Thursday to celebrate with book-based games, and more activities are planned throughout the month.
Newton Parrish Elementary School Instructional Coach Zaletha Brown said they read to their students every month, but this month they are taking it to the next level.
Students will all log their readings, and the classes with the most-read books in their grade will win the competition.
“Our goal is to guide our students to find their interests when reading. When they found their interest then they may just take off reading,” Brown said.
The initiative, while an in-school competition, goes beyond the confines of the school as families are encouraged to get involved. Brown said they are sending home tips and tricks with the students to give families talking points and ways to help encourage reading for their students.
During a Thursday assembly, Principal Andrew Self opened the floor with his passion for reading and encouraged the students to share their love for reading as well. Afterward, students competed in building reading nooks for school mascot Bobby the Bobcat, and they played book-based pictionary.
“We want kids to love to read,” Self said. “It’s going to be the foundation of everything they do in elementary school, and the more we encourage them to read, the smarter they’re going to get, the more words they’re going to know.”
