The staff and student body of MP King Elementary School were on hand last week to recognize an important milestone achieved by four students at the school. During the morning announcements prior to classroom time, the following students were awarded certificates and personally engraved medals for reading more than ONE MILLION WORDS each in just the first semester of school. In addition to the certificates, medals, and encouragement from their peers and the teaching staff, students also received yard signs to note their accomplishment. The students who met this goal were:
- Emma Graham, fourth grade
- Kailaash Malacarne, fourth grade
- Maxwell O’Connor, fifth grade
- William O’Shaughnessy, fourth grade
In speaking with the students in the library after morning announcements, we learned a few interesting tidbits about each one.
Emma G: She also enjoys jujitsu, dance, drawing, and traveling. Her favorite genre is historical fiction. She estimated that she’d read over twenty books to get to her goal.
Kailaash M: In addition to reading and traveling, he participates in athletics like swim team, basketball, soccer, and skiing. He is also an avid aviation enthusiast who would like to become a commercial pilot or air traffic controller when he becomes an adult. He read about twenty books and likes to read historical fiction.
Maxwell O: Swimming, video games, and bike riding are big interests of Maxwell’s. He enjoys reading historical fiction books. Maxwell also likes reading with his younger brother. He read approximately ten books.
William O: He enjoys the author Jack London, as well as playing board games and video games. He would like to travel more. He read a whopping twenty-eight books to reach one million words! He loves realistic fiction.
Mrs Michelle Godfrey, the school librarian who oversees this program, noted that these students came in regularly about four times a week for the open library period offered. In addition to books found in the MP King Elementary School catalog, these students read books from other sources as well. She said that students who hit two million words this school year will be permitted to become “Principal for the Day” and accompany Mr Jason Schrock on duty for a day. The students were especially excited to hear this as they all had some plans in store for the day they might be in charge of the school!
Kailaash said it beautifully when he noted that, “The best authors make you feel like you’re in the book.” We couldn’t have said it any better! We congratulate these students and wish them and their fellow students all the best in their reading adventures. Congratulations to them, their families, and the wonderfully supportive staff at MP King Elementary School for encouraging these young people to enjoy reading.
