Schools celebrate reading

Schools across southeast Kansas will be celebrating the birthday of famed children's author Dr. Seuss throughout the week, with numerous schools doing special festivities on Read Across America Day on Thursday, what would be Seuss' 102nd birthday.

The event, which is sponsored by the National Education Association has been going on nationwide since 1998. Seuss, the author and illustrator of 44 children's books, including "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Cat in the Hat," and "Green Eggs and Ham," died in 1991 at the age of 87.

Many schools will have various community members and older students reading to children throughout the day.

"We'll explain to all the kids what a community of readers, Dr. Seuss and Read Across America - what that all has to do with each other," Phillis Scorse, principal at Meadowlark Elementary School, said.

Students at Lakeside Elementary will receive a special visit from Crawford County District Judge Don Noland Thursday morning. Noland will lead the students in "The Readers Oath," in which they will pledge to continue reading all their lives.

Lakeside Elementary School principal Cory Gibson said the event is a great education tool.

But not all schools will be able to fully celebrate Seuss' birthday on Thursday, as a few are in the midst of state assessment testing.

Students at Frontenac's Frank Layden Elementary School fall in that group, but will not totally miss out on the festivities. While third through fifth-graders will be testing, kindergartners through second-graders will receive visits from community members that will read Dr. Seuss books. A few special guests will also stop by - The Cat in the Hat and one of his helpers.

Layden principal Mark Allai said the event reinforces the most basic tenet of education - reading.

Pittsburg's Westside Elementary School starts assessment testing today, but students did not miss out on festivities, as members of the Pittsburg Fire Department came and read to students on Monday.

The following is a list of other events celebrated throughout the week by area schools in honor of Read Across America Day:

* After Noland's visit, students at Lakeside Elementary School will also sing Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss, followed by visits from various community leaders, who will read to the children. Visitors include Thomas Roughton of the Pittsburg Police Department (10 a.m.), KOAM anchor Dowe Quick (10:15 a.m.), Gus the Gorilla (12:30 p.m.), Bobby Gardullo of the Pittsburg Fire Department (1:10 p.m.), Pittsburg High School head football coach Merle Clark (1:30 p.m.), and Superman (2 p.m.).

* Meadowlark Elementary School will start festivities with an assembly at 2 p.m., and will then break into groups where various community volunteers will read to the children.

* Various grades at George Nettels Elementary School will be participating in different activities in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday. Fourth-graders will read to kindergarten students, first-graders will be celebrating Seuss' birthday in their classrooms, and third-graders will be having a Robert Munsch-fest.

Munsch is another children's author who writes comedic children's books on experiences of young children. Other classes will be doing activities, but details were not available.

* Kindergarten through third-grade students at Cherokee Attendance Center will go through five rotating stations from 8:35 a.m. to approximately 10:15 a.m. The five different stations include a viewing of a Dr. Seuss video, decorating hat cookies, Dr. Seuss Bingo, Cat in the Hat art, and reading of Dr. Seuss books. The day will wrap up at 2:30 p.m. with cake and punch for all students.

* Members of the Southeast High School National Honor Society will visit McCune and Weir Attendance Center students and read books to them.

* Northeast Elementary School students will be celebrating Seuss' birthday throughout the week with parties for Dr. Seuss during visits to the school library. Students will also read Dr. Seuss books in the library and their classrooms.

* The students at St. Mary's Elementary School will be celebrating with a Dr. Seuss Cafe all week. The event is put on primarily by sixth-graders with assistance from different community members, including volunteers from the Kiwanis Club. Students will visit the cafe at the library all week, and get to choose books they would like read to them from the menu.

* Kansas City Chiefs mascot KC Wolf will visit students at Winfield Scott Elementary School to encourage them to read.

* Students at Eugene Ware Elementary School will receive visits from community members all day. Special guest readers include Principal Billie Jo Drake, USD 234 Superintendent Richard Werling, local businessman Jim Sather, City Business Manager Alan Drake, Ann Ludlum of the Bourbon County Health Extension Agency, and local senior citizen Gene Armstrong

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) March 1, 2006