LAURINBURG — Scotland County students have been enjoying a week full of fun-filled days to get them excited about reading.
Read Across America Week, or Dr. Seuss Week, ties in with the famous children’s author’s birthday to encourage children to read more. Schools encouraged students to wear wacky clothes, dress up as their favorite book character, wear shirts with words on them and more.
“The schools have been so amazing putting this week together for the students,” said Sharon Castelli, literacy project director for Scotland County Schools. “But it really goes beyond Dr. Seuss’s birthday — it is meant to help students develop that love of reading and its initiative is to get children excited to read more books.”
Castelli added that, during the week, schools have their book fairs and even have books read to them by members of the community— as well as Superintendent Ron Hargrave and Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services Cory Satterfield.
“Some of the high school students were able to come and read to Laurel Hill students,” Castelli said. “We’ve had firemen, police officers, residents from Scotia Village, parents … it’s just had a lot of community support.”
Throughout the week, students are being given the opportunity to go enjoy the book vending machines that are placed in the elementary and middle schools for their free books. Castelli also added that she was able to give some children’s and baby books to students at Scotland Early College High School for them to give out to young readers they know and continue spreading the love of reading.
“It’s really one of my favorite times of the year, it’s almost better than Christmas,” Castelli said. “It’s such a wonderful feeling to see the kids reading in a book nook or under a desk because its reading time and its a book they picked and they get to keep. And they all enjoy being read to, like yesterday I read to my daughter’s class and she was just so proud it really lights up a class.”
Castelli added that she commended all the schools and the media centers for making this week fun and exciting for the children and for the community support throughout the week helping bring stories to life.
Reach Katelin Gandee at kgandee@laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com
