Children from Rebecca Sepulveda's kindergarten class at Ripley Central School listen eagerly as Denine Noonan reads "Over In the Garden" to them on Read Across America Day.

By DAVID PRENATT

editorial@observertoday.com

RIPLEY — “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” writes Dr. Seuss in “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut.”

While schools across the nation will focus on Seuss’s words during Read Across America, celebrated during the week of March 2 to 6 this year, Ripley Central School makes fostering excitement for reading a priority throughout the year.

Read Across America Day, which was established by the National Education Association in 1997, with the goal of promoting reading among children, coincides with Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Ripley Central School, which, as a district, places a strong emphasis on reading, celebrates Read Across America beyond Seuss’s March 2 birthday, with a full week of festivities.

“What makes Ripley special is that our teachers don’t just teach reading; they model it. From our staff book clubs and the 52-book challenge to our monthly reading celebrations, we are a community of readers,” said Ripley Principal Sara Centanni. “We are especially excited to soon announce a book that our entire school will read together.”

Centanni went on to say that Read Across America has become a Spirit Week at the school, with students participating in daily themed dress-ups. The theme for Monday is “Reading Jogs the Mind” and pupils will be encouraged to wear workout attire.

Rebecca Sepulveda’s kindergarten class was particularly excited about the day. “It’s so fun because you get new visitors that read to us,” said one little girl.

In the afternoon, Special Education Teacher Denine Noonan came to read the book “Over in the Garden” by Janna Matthies to the class. Illustrated by Tisha Lee, the book is not only packed full of colorful plants and animals, but hidden on each page are the numbers one to ten.

The children were quite eager to find each number, so much that Sepulveda had to tell them to raise their hands, rather than shouting out. “I see it!” one girl said excitedly. Another answered, “I don’t see it. Oh, it was blended in.”

Individuals, including State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor, read to students from the beginning to the end of the school day on Monday, and the celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday was central to the day’s activities. “On March 2 we welcomed guest readers in every classroom, and our hallways were buzzing with spirit-week costumes,” Centanni said.

The theme “Team Up and Read” was followed on Tuesday with students wearing their favorite team jersey/shirts, Centannni said. Wednesday was “Hats Off to Reading” day and children will be permitted to wear hats during the school day, she said.

The theme for Thursday was “Snuggle Up and Read'” so students will be encouraged to wear pajamas to school, and Friday’s theme was “Eagles are Readers” so everyone at RCS will be encouraged to show their Eagle Pride!” Centanni said.