By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Guest Reader Frenzy For Read Across Riverbank
Matt
Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Fire Chief Matt Daly took a moment to read to Mrs. Prices second grade class at California Avenue Elementary, an experience enjoyed by both reader and students. VIRGINIA STILL/THE NEWS

Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that is celebrated by the Riverbank Unified School District (RUSD) throughout the entire month of March, hosted by the After School Program, which they have deemed Read Across Riverbank.

The theme for this year’s event is “Bringing Stories to Life” and that is what guest readers did throughout the district last week from March 20 to March 24. There were guest readers throughout the community that signed up to read to the students at Riverbank Language Academy (RLA), Mesa Verde Elementary, and California Avenue Elementary. After School Program Advisor Angela Bailey-Gabrie coordinated the readers that included district employees, parent groups, RUSD Board of Trustees members, Riverbank Kiwanis member Donna King, and Riverbank Librarian Vicky Holt, all participating in promoting reading this past week.

On Wednesday morning, RUSD Superintendent Dr. Daryl Camp spent some time at RLA to read to first graders in Ms. Valdovinos’s class and second graders in Ms. Vigil’s class in celebration of Read of Across Riverbank. He read “La Tortuga vs. La Liebre, La Revancha” by Preston Rutt/Ben Redlich in Spanish which was a tale about a tortoise and a hare and the rematch or revenge. During the story Camp would pick an eager student to read a paragraph in Spanish and they would also assist in the pronunciation of words. The impressive Spanish speaking students also helped translate a few words that may have been unknown. The students were smiling and laughing along with Camp as the story was read.

The Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Fire Chief Matt Daly participated as a guest reader at California Avenue Elementary in Mrs. Price’s second grade class. He read “The Bravest Fish” by Matt Buckingham and afterward did a bit of a book review with the youngsters that were all very enthusiastic to answer the questions about the book.

Most of the students were focused and paying attention to every word that was being read. The month-long celebration of Read Across Riverbank is to encourage youngsters to read and to create lifelong readers. The After School Program advisors organize the activities throughout the month to promote reading for fun as well as learning.

The Books in a Jar challenge will continue until Friday, March 31. This challenge gives students an opportunity to challenge each other to read as many books as possible throughout the month to win prizes and an ice cream treat in April.

The final activity will be held on Friday, March 31 which will be a Reader’s Theatre Night from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. at California Avenue Elementary. The After School Program will host the show, where one class from each school site will perform a story on stage.