Roaring Up to Over A Quarter-Million Pages Read In Three Weeks!!!
All the top readers and finalists of every Parmelee class in South Los Angles received a special medal from the school.
The school, in fact, earned its own School of the Year Jester Jingle Medal.
Students got hooked on reading quickly. “Students began to read independently when they finished their work,” noted second-grade teacher Juan Ponce. And noted Transitional Kindergarten Teacher Adeli Gonzalez, “Families like the tradition of reading in the evenings.”
Parmelee Lions read a total of 237,850 pages in this, its second Jester Read-A-Thon. That achievement was over three times as many pages as their first Read-A-Thon where they read 69,672 pages. Teachers and administrators noted that support from parents and volunteers helped boost those numbers so dramatically.
The top reader in the school was third grader Jaretsi Aguilar Rivas, who read 14,612 pages, making him a two-time top reader for his classroom.
The top class in lower grades and the top class in upper grades each received a pizza party. Luis Garcia’s happy third graders read 41,287 pages and Sandra Ponce’s fifth-grade readers all enjoyed their pizza surprises.
“Students would comment on how reading was helping children who were in the hospital,” noted fourth-grade teacher Claudia Rincon. “They became more empathetic.”
Benefiting from student caring were patients at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. “The Jester books and dolls have been so beneficial in helping our pediatric patients adjust to and cope with hospitalization and illness,” said Miller Child Life Specialist Alicia Richardson. “”Thank you very much for thinking of the children who must spend time away from home, family and friends.”
Teachers and students can’t wait to beat their own record!
A Festival of Balloons & Smiles!
With that spirit, Parmelee Lions roared into one book after another. “It’s been so exciting to see Parmelee Lions read a total of 69,672 pages in their very first Read-A-Thon,” Phund Executive Director Amy Hastings said. “The excitement for reading to help others was contagious, and it was wonderful to see the school give the top reader in every classroom a colorful medal to honor their achievements.”
Top readers also received a bilingual Jester book and an award certificate from The Phund. Parmelee’s top reader, who devoured an incredible 6,008 pages, also won a Jester book pack for future reading adventures.
At the awards assembly, Principal Patricia Ferguson smiled proudly amidst colorful balloons, taking in the many parents clapping for their children. Students waved brightly colored flags as balloons waved in the breeze, filling the playground with joy and celebration.
Said Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Child Life Director Rita Goshert, “Parmelee Lions have definitely made a positive difference and showed how much they care about our pediatric patients.”
Parmelee Lions proved that the power of reading can extend far beyond classroom walls, bringing hope and joy to children who need it most.
