NEW ROCHELLE, NY — When the month-long read-a-thon at William B. Ward Elementary School had finished, the students had logged a whopping 2 million minutes devouring novels, picture books and non-fiction.
“Each of you read your hearts out,” gushed kindergarten teacher Geri-Ann Lezi at a wrap-up celebration in the auditorium, where thumping music and volunteer parents waving shiny blue pom-poms filled the auditorium. “As a whole, Ward School read all those minutes – two million minutes! Great job!”
Kindergarten teacher Angela D’Ambrosio also encouraged the students to “keep on reading” even though the read-a-thon was finished for this school year.
The festivities were spread over three periods, in order to bring in students two grades at a time. Top readers were awarded prizes. During the read-a-thon, students read in class, when they got home from school and on weekends to log the minutes, enhancing their enjoyment of the written word.
“Sometimes when I read, I jump into the book and I take on an adventure,” said first-grader Gloria Perlleshi.
Ward was the first school in the District to hold read-a-thons; they are now held by other schools as well. Students sought sponsors for their reading, and raised more than $50,000. The funds support field trips and other enrichment programs, and help to ensure that all children have access to books.
Teacher Genevieve Vaccariello, whose class won an award for the most minutes read in second grade, said, “In kindergarten and first grade, you are learning to read. From second and third grade on, you are reading to learn. It’s so unbelievable the places you can go and the things you can find out by reading.”
