‘Jester Books & Dolls Help Our Patients Cope With Hospitalization’
Teachers and administrators at Fenton Charter Leadership Academy (FCLA) and Fenton STEM Academy (STEM) in Sun Valley, CA, eagerly cheered their K-6 students who wolfed down 105,889 pages to help ill children in their ninth Jester Read-A-Thon.
The desire to help sick kids with Jester books and dolls motivated them daily during the annual three-week read-a-thon.
“We believe the mission of The Jester & Pharley Phund is important and aligns with the goals we have for our students,” said second-grade FCLA teacher Kate Marrelli. “The Reading Makes A Difference program increases kindness and empathy and literacy amongst our students.”
Fifth-grade teacher Sabrina Gonzalez spoke for all Fenton Wolves noting how “The students look forward to the program every year and are always trying to improve their literacy along with earning page numbers read and helping other children.”
Diving into the Read-A-Thon with gusto, many top readers repeated previous feats. Two FCLA fourth graders were three-time top readers, while another racked up their fourth top-reader Jester Jingle Certificate. Among STEM participants, three students were two-time top readers.
“My students love the friendly competition, and I see that they are looking forward to finishing a book,” observed Ms. Gonzalez.
Child Life specialist Alicia Richardson at benefiting Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach thanked participating readers via Zoom at the Capstone Awards Assembly. “The Jester books and dolls have been so beneficial in helping our pediatric patients adjust to and cope with hospitalization and illness,” she said. “Thank you very much for thinking of the children who must spend time away from home, family and friends. Your support is so valuable in helping create a positive experience for our hospitalized children.”
Teachers, administrators and students can’t wait to read even more pages to bring Jester smiles to sick kids next year.
Fenton Students Set Records Wolfing Down 171,659 Pages!
Fenton Wolves devoured one book after another in their eighth Jester & Pharley Phund Reading Makes A Difference Read-A-Thon. “We love the program and look forward to it every year,” exclaimed TK teacher Brennan Mack.
Students amassed new records in the two-wolfpack school – comprised of Fenton Charter Leadership Academy (FCLA) and Fenton STEM Academy.
Martha May’s 6th-grade FCLA class set a standard not only for Fenton Wolves but also for classes gnawing through our Read-A-Thons throughout Southern California – 34,329 pages with 100% class participation.
The top FCLA class reader (from Ms. May’s class) also nabbed a couple of other honors. She took the top 6th-grade reader spot in the FCLA competition with 26,858 pages read in three weeks. It was her second time winning the class top reader spot. She earned a Jester & Pharley Doll – in addition to previously winning a top-spot bilingual Jester book.
Joanna Tepper’s 5th-grade class led the STEM school with 14,380 pages, with the top class winner reading 5,217 pages – his third top reader award!
FCLA boasted five students who were two-time top readers and two students who were three-time top readers. On the STEM side, one student now counts two top-reader spots among their awards and another student topped the three-time top reader mark.
Altogether, students from both Fenton schools read a total of 171,659 pages to give Jester books and Jester & Pharley Dolls to Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach patients. Applauding the students via Zoom, Miller Child Life Director Rita Goshert thanked them for reading so many pages to give Jester books and Jester & Pharley Dolls to patients.
A three week Read-a-Thon with students from Fenton Charter Leadship Academy
During the three week read-a-thon students from Fenton Charter Leadship Academy kept journals to document their reading. Altogether they read 113,258 pages. The school, along with the Weingart Foundation and the Seidman Family Foundation, was able to donate 30 copies of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle/El Bufón ha perdido su gracia and 30 Jester & Pharley Dolls to Totally Kids in Sun Valley, CA, for use with their young patients.
Students from Fenton Charter Leadership Academy read 76,504 pages.
During the three week read-a-thon students from Fenton Charter Leadership Academy kept journals to document their reading. Altogether they read 76,504 pages. The school, along with Anne Akiko Meyers and Jason Subotky, was able to donate 35 copies of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle/El Bufón ha perdido su gracia and 35 Jester & Pharley Dolls to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, for use with their young patients.
