Six additional schools were added this year to the ranks of Lake County schools meeting the Superintendent’s Reading Challenge of having 90 to 100 percent of a school’s student body reading books between September 2011 to March 2, 2012.
During the six months, students read a total of 515, 812 books, which surpassed the number of books read last school year by about 53,000. Next school year, the District is looking forward to reaching a goal of more than 600,000 books read.
Sixteen elementary schools that met challenge received a set of books for their libraries: Astatula Elementary, Beverly Shores Elementary, Clermont Elementary, Cypress Ridge Elementary, Fruitland Park Elementary, Grassy Lake Elementary, Groveland Elementary, Lost Lake Elementary, Mascotte Charter Elementary, Round Lake Charter Elementary, Sawgrass Bay Elementary, Spring Creek Charter Elementary, Tavares Elementary, Treadway Elementary and Villages Elementary.
“We had the kids really excited about reading and checking out more books from the library,” said Ginger Shivers, Literacy Coach at Beverly Shores Elementary, which was the school’s first time meeting the reading challenge.
Shivers also credited reading nights at the school for spurring families and students to read. Each nine weeks, Assistant Principal Samuel Danner had a “reader’s challenge” that encouraged students to read a set number of books, and the challenge was tied into the school’s family night themes. Students were allowed to help decorate the cafeteria once they reached their goals.
For the second year in a row, Umatilla High was the only secondary school to boast 100 percent participation in the challenge.
“Our library is centrally located for many of our students and they are constantly going into the library and checking out materials,” said Glenda Weber, Literacy Coach at Umatilla High.
Weber and other staff at the school actively engage students in what they are reading and make suggestions on other books they make enjoy.
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