by Gwen Johnson staff writer
From the May 5, 2004 edition of The New Castle Record
Singing, shouting and silly hats were all a part of the Accelerated Reader program’s 1,000 Bok Celebration at McCleary Elementary School on April 23.
Students in Josephine Keller’s second-grade reading class have collectively read 1,000 books since the beginning of the school year last September. To celebrate the special occasion students accompanied by Keller, Librarian Susan Keith, McCleary Principal Shirely Woodall, Assistant Principal Greg Stick, Salem School Superintendent Dr. Rose Martin, and assorted others paraded through the halls of the elementary school wearing funny hats, smiling faces and a big sign that read “Reading is Fun.”
On the parade route some of the McCleary teachers allowed their classes to gather in the hallway to help celebrate and cheer the group on. Melissa Whiting’s class even invited the group into the classroom so her kindergartners could perform a song for them they had been working on expressing their congratulations and thanks for the inspiration.
Refreshments were served to the readers upon return to their classroom. The 18 readers who participated in the program were: Sam Alley, Christopher Baer, Austin Cox, Ethan Dowdy, Dyanna Frango, Dylan McCaleb, Shane McGuire, Leah McMahan, Andrew Newby, Laken Poff, Alex Potter, Bayli Price, Morgan Sowers, Elizabeth Surface, Alyssa Swingle, Adrianna Via, Paul Watterson and Maggie Wilcher.
As an added bonus for a job well done, some of the local merchants have given the school gift certificates as follows: Victor Bell & Craig Family Medicine fr each 25 books read, IGA Mick-or- Mack for each 10 books read, Jefferson National Forest Ranger Station for each 25 books read, and REA Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative for each 10 books read. As students received the certificates for their accomplishments, they could visit the businesses and trad them in for prizes. Some of the students who were part of the 1,000 Book Celebration are in the 100-club meaning they have read 100 books since the first grade and several are already in the 200 Club indicating they read as many as 200 books since beginning first grade.
So, hats off (or hats on as the case may be) to Ms. Keller and her second grade reading group. Keep up the good work!
-Prepared by Shelly Koon