‘Students Are More Empathetic Than Ever Before’
In the 11th year joining our Reading Makes A Difference program, 32nd St. Elementary kindergarten through third-graders read with zest. They were excited to join our three-week Read-A-Thon to give Jester books and dolls to patients at nearby Luskin Orthopedic Institute for Children.
“Students are very empathetic these days – more than ever before,” observed first-grade teacher Dr. John Purcell. “They like to help each other out and we don’t see much bullying at all anymore.”
The top-reading classroom – Nelly Cristales’ second graders – eagerly read 24,584 pages out of the total 79,157 read by all four grades.
“When the students have a purpose for reading, it is far more motivating for them, especially when it is for such a good cause,” Jennifer Lopez said of her first time kindergarten participants.
The school’s top reader, second grader Shabaz Mahbub, scored more pages than any other student participant – an incredible achievement!
Pilar Freeman, Community Engagement Manager at LOIC, praised the students’ compassion as she handed out prizes and certificates to the top readers.
“This sense of purpose for reading slowly turns into finding pleasure in reading as students discover what genres or characters they prefer when it comes to books,” noted Ms. Lopez.
Students also eagerly joined our new Pharley Phun for All Art Contest, which helped them develop their ability to illustrate what makes them happy without using words.
New Heights Celebrating Reading & Caring
Record-breaking! That’s how exciting 32nd Street Elementary’s 10th Jester Read-A-Thon was from beginning to end. Funded by USC Good Neighbors, the Los Angeles program resulted in:
- A 1st grader in Dr. Purcell’s class reading 11,465 pages in just three weeks.
- Dr. Purcell’s class alone read 65,864 – more than some entire schools!
- Kindergarten through third graders turned a total of 172,059 pages to donate Jester books & dolls to patients at Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children.
- In a Pharley Phun for All Art Contest, students loved illustrating where they find joy.
- “The students especially liked that their reading competition helped children at the hospital,” said 3rd grade teacher Jennifer Wong.
- “Jester books provide the children with joy,” hospital foundation director Michael Willis said thanking students for their thoughtfulness.
Altogether they read 125,539 pages.
During the three week read-a-thon students kept journals to document their reading.
Altogether they read 84,642 pages.
During the three week read-a-thon students from 32nd Street USC Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School kept journals to document their reading. Altogether they read 84,642 pages. The school, along with the Good Neighbors Campaign, donated 30 copies of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle/El Bufón ha perdido su gracia and 30 Jester & Pharley Dolls to Orthopaedic Institute for Children in Los Angeles, CA, for use with their young patients.
