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VUES Community Group Read-a-Thon Starts Off March Literacy

photo provided Principal Sargeant starts the March Madness Reading with her own take on a classic!

Tuesday February 25, 2014

We all at some time experienced the joy and wonder of reading through the pages of our favorite books as children. While some of us toured the 100 Acre Woods with a silly old bear named Pooh or rhymed our way through Green Eggs and Ham with Dr. Seuss others went Where the Wild Things Are and some of the brave souls took a ride on a magic carpet or in a magic school bus. It did not matter which book was read, you were transported to a new world and place you wanted to revisit again and again. While common sense tells us that literacy and love of the printed word begins at a young age there are nonetheless collections of cited studies linking early reading to success in many phases of education and lifelong learning patterns. The Vergennes Union Elementary School Community supports this and is hoping to start a March Madness of Literacy of their own.
   Group Member and teacher Melissa Flint explained, “This is a Read-a-Thon fundraiser for the group and our goal is to get children to read every night for the Month of March and discover a love of reading. We have a kick off assembly Friday, February 28th at 9:00-9:30 AM.  The Read-a-Thon is March 1-31.  The closing assembly is Friday, April 4th at 9:00-9:30 AM.  Our teachers recommended K-2 reading fifteen minutes per night, grades 3&4 will read twenty-five minutes, grades 5&6 will read thirty-five minutes a night.”  The idea originated with parents and educators Michelle Eckels and Melissa Flint who shared memories of their early reading and hope to spark this passion to read in VUES students in all grades. “Michelle Eckles’ favorite books were A Wrinkle in Time series and The Little House series.  My favorite was The Little House and Charlotte’s Web,” remarked Flint. “We are both chuckling because we never realized until you asked that question that we both loved The Little House series!”
    While today reading appears in many shapes and sizes and children use books, audio books, Kindles and IPads the goal is still the same. The Community group is providing fun filled exciting events including Story walks coming from Montpelier and around the school and town. “Each week will be a new story,” shared Flint. “There will be events hosted by the Bixby library K-2 PJ and Story Night and grades 3-6 scavenger hunt.  All students will receive two free books to kick off the Read-a-Thon from Bonnie’s Books at bonniesbooks.org.  We are aiming for 100% participation.  Many generous non-profits including Vergennes Lions, Women of Wisdom, Neat Repeats, June Bug, St. Peter’s Knights of Columbus and UTC Aerospace Systems have pledged money to sponsor children in need.  Many parents have volunteered to help provide a reading experience for every child once a week for twenty minutes during school hours.  Community members can keep their eye out for local businesses who will promote the Read-a-Thon with amazing window displays.  If anyone would like to sponsor a child or volunteer please contact the Vergennes Union Elementary School.”
   As March approaches and people look forward to the coming of spring VUES will be in the thick of it and the ‘aim of the game’ will be reading  and reading some more. Better yet, read to some children or grandchildren or simply immerse yourself in a good book. It is good for the soul, heart and mind. March Madness has a new look and it has literacy written all over it.

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