Hampton-Dumont Elementary School is celebrating Read Across America Week, a local extension of the national observance on March 2nd, which marks the birthday of legendary author Dr. Seuss. The annual event, now in its third year at Hampton-Dumont, highlights the joy and importance of reading for students from preschool through fourth grade.
Elementary Principal Beth Frenchick encouraged community participation, inviting local residents to serve as guest readers in classrooms at North Side and South Side Elementary. Roughly 40 volunteers have visited, sharing books and stories with students. Frenchick tells RadioOnTheGo News the community’s participation in Read Across America Week makes a big difference in encouraging students to read and celebrate literacy.
“It’s important for our students to see, community members and also for anyone from the community to see the work that our kids are doing every day,” Frenchick says. “We work very hard. Our kids are working nonstop to improve their reading skills and it’s just a really great opportunity for them to hear from people outside of our walls.”
Each day of the week features a dress-up theme inspired by Dr. Seuss, including Monday’s Wear Your Favorite Hat Day (“The Cat in the Hat”), Tie-Dye Tuesday (“My Many Colored Days”), Backwards and Mismatched Clothes Wednesday (“Wacky Wednesday”), Thursday’s Crazy Sock Day (“Fox in Socks”), and Pajama Day with a Friend on Friday (“What Pet Should I Get?”).
Frenchick says that in a world full of screens and devices, it’s easy for reading to take a backseat, and initiatives like this help students stay engaged.
“Reading is incredibly important. It actually sets us up for success as an adult. It’s an indicator of the graduation rate, so the earlier students learn to read and read well, the better chance of them graduating and going on to either schooling or a good job after graduating. We work really hard here and always trying to improve our practices in helping our students learn to read,” Frenchick adds, “We have implemented some new curriculum that’s really focused on phonics and we’ve seen really great results from that already for our younger students and we just want to set our kids up for success and for them to see that reading doesn’t stop when you leave school. Everyone loves to read.”
The week not only celebrates the joy of reading but also unites the community in sharing that joy with students.
Pictured in story thumbnail is Hampton-Dumont Superintendent Mr. Tim Felderman reading to Miss Rana Janes’ 3rd grade class at South Side (courtesy of Principal Beth Frenchick)
Full interview below that features Frenchick along with 4th grade students Coy Schreck, Dexter Hofer and Amara Nuss
Pictured are those in the interview left to right: Coy Schreck, Dexter Hofer, Amara Nuss and Elementary Principal Beth Frenchick
