Students celebrating reading

Schools in the Richland School District celebrated the Reading Across America event last week, with classrooms filled with special guest readers of numerous Dr. Seuss books. The event encouraged reading in and out of the classroom and shows that reading is an enjoyable event, not just an educational tool. There were dozens of guests at local elementary schools that helped celebrate the joy of reading.

Members of the Shafter community came to read to the students, including Mayor Chad Givens, Mayor Pro-Tem Cathy Prout, Shafter High football coach Jerald Pierucci, Pastor Mark Scialabba, Debbie Haley and many other volunteers.

At Sequoia Elementary, Principal Janean Johnson, with assistance from Roya Eubanks and other volunteers, made the event a fun and exciting one for the students as well as the volunteer readers.

The event was started in 1998 by the National Education Association to encourage children to read. It later developed into a year-round program, with special celebrations each March. Schools in the community come together and celebrate the act of reading, making it a fun activity, as well as one of the most important ones in a child's development.

Organizers wanted to help children and adults alike understand that reading is an activity that has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for fiction or self-help, or just a good time, there is a book for everything. Reading Across America promotes reading to young children and helps get them reading and developing a good habit at an early stage.

There were a variety of books read at the schools, from numerous Dr. Seuss books, to other popular books that entertained the kids as well as show what a positive activity reading can be.