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West Side students awarded for reading 10,000 books

Photo courtesy of Beth Ritter Along with the opportunity to participate in a lot of other outdoor activities, West Side students enjoyed freshly-grilled burgers as part of a celebration for reaching a school-wide 10,000-book reading milestone this past week.

MARSHALL — West Side Elementary School students were recently rewarded for reaching their goal of reading a combined 10,000 books this school year.

Title I/reading specialist Beth Ritter implemented the new reading program, which includes the 40 Book Challenge for each individual student. While students are required to choose books at their reading level, part of the challenge included selecting books from different genres.

“Our grand total was 10,433 books for the year,” Ritter said. “Because of this, the kids were rewarded with the 10,000 Book Extravaganza, which was a burgers, books and beach towels kind of celebration. It was a fun way to celebrate all the hard work and dedication the students had throughout the school year. We had many tell us that it was the best day ever.”

The celebration this week began in the gymnasium with the fourth-quarter Tiger Pride celebration. Then all the students were invited outside to participate in any or all of the activities — which included face painting, bubble making, mural painting, sidewalk chalk, beanbag toss, jump roping and much more.

“They also got to enjoy a fresh grilled lunch outside and eat it on their beach towel,” Ritter said. “We also had snow cones and popcorn for everyone to enjoy.”

West Side Principal Jeremy Williams said that the reading challenge overall was a great experience for the third- and fourth-graders at the school.

“This was our first year doing the challenge,” Williams said. “Our goal was to get kids excited about reading, and that is what we saw. Students were reading books in many genres, and many of them far exceeded the challenge.”

Ritter agreed, noting that the reading challenge definitely exposed the students to new and exciting titles and genres that they weren’t aware of.

“We truly feel that our students were much more engaged with their reading this year and many read and enjoyed books from genres that they haven’t ever read before,” she said.

Different prizes, rewards or incentives were awarded to the students for every 2,000 books read school-wide. Along with the extravaganza celebration, other milestone rewards include having a popcorn and PJs movie day, getting to make Principal Williams and teachers Deanna Suby and Bob Jacobson human sundaes and greeting students from on top the roof one morning.

“The 10,000 book challenge on Monday was a big hit,” Williams said. “I’ve had a lot positive feedback from teachers and parents — much of it about how much fun it has been to see the kids reading so much this year.”

Ritter said she had also received “great feedback” from the staff, students and parents.

“All students were able to be successful with the program because they were reading books at their level and loved the challenge of working together as a school to achieve the school-wide goal of 10,000 books,” Ritter said. “Our goal is that the kids will continue to read and enjoy many different genres throughout the summer and we have even challenged our West Side students to a summer reading program. We are thrilled with the success of how the challenge has gone this year.”

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