READ ACROSS AMERICA 2004

WEA once again sponsored a variety of activities to promote and celebrate reading through NEA’s Read Across America program. Tuesday, March 2, marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Theodore Geisel, better known to millions as Dr. Seuss. Regardless of the grade level or subject area taught, teachers took the time on Tuesday to read to their classes and/or invited people from outside his or her school to be "guest readers."

Thanks to Kathy Kneubel (Evening Street), Amie Freed (Kilbourne Middle School), and Stephanie Riedmiller (Colonial Hills) for their work in organizing WEA’s Read Across America activities.

Participating Schools (click for photos)

Worthington Hills

Classroom Anecdotes

Regina Mauer teaches kindergarten at Wilson Hill.

It's the end of the day and we had a wonderful celebration in kindergarten for Doctor Seuss' birthday. Actually, I have made this a tradition for more years than Right to Read week has been acknowledged. My daughter, Rachel, was born on March 1st. For years, she had a sleepover on her birthday. When the giggling girls awoke on March 2nd, it was Doctor Seuss' birthday. We always commemorated this date with Green Eggs and Ham.

Today in kindergarten, we culminated our study of nutrition and food groups with this zany treat. We scrambled 6 dozen eggs, went through 4 loaves of bread to make toast , 3 pounds of ham, and 2 bottles of green food coloring. I donned my red and white striped hat and my "Cat in the Hat" pajama pants. The kids went for seconds and really enjoyed having 5 guests readers visit today! My fingernails are green, and my car is full of kitchen utensils and cooking appliances!

Keri Newcomb teaches Spanish at Worthingway Middle School.

We celebrated Read Across America with me reading Huevos Verdes Con Jamón (Green Eggs and Ham) to my 8th graders and Donde Viven Los Monstruos (Where the Wild Things Are)to my 7th graders.

Read Across America Book Drive Update
Over the next two weeks, WEA will provide you with occasional updates on the status of the Read Across America book drive. Each book collected represents 10 miles traveled. Our goal is to travel back and forth across the country by collecting 750 books (7500 miles) by March 18.

Update #1: March 4, 2004
We’re off to a great start. We’ve begun our trip in beautiful downtown Worthington, waiting until after the polls closed to be sure our levy votes were counted. With winter winding down, we’re venturing northeast to beautiful Stowe, Vermont, for a little bit of skiing before venturing out to beautiful Martha’s Vineyard on Cape Cod. We then drove south to Washington, D.C., and on to sunny Jacksonville, Florida. That’s quite an accomplishment, covering New England and the East Coast in just two days, but we still have a long way to go to make it all the way across the country and back to Central Ohio.

Books Collected: 211 Goal: 750 Needed: 539

Update #2: March 11, 2004
Another big influx of books has fueled our travels out of the sunny southeast and westward toward the Pacific. The outpouring of support from staff, students, and members of the community has been tremendous, but we're still just over half way to our goal of 750 books. We last left off in Jacksonville, Florida. After hitting the local links and making a quick stop in the World of Disney, we have ventured west to the cultural mecca of New Orleans. After being sure to take in some jazz and eat at one of Emeril's finest restaurants, we've continued our journey across the Lone Star State of Texas, through New Mexico, and into sunny Arizona where we hope to watch some of our favorite baseball teams participate in spring training. Up next: the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and the California coast!

1 book = 10 miles; total miles traveled: 4,190

Books Collected to Date: 419 Goal: 750 Still Needed: 331

Update #3: March 16, 2004--Almost Home!

Despite a temporary setback caused by a major snowstorm, we have made substantial progress toward our goal of collecting 750 books for the Children's Hospital Reach Out and Read Program. We began the third leg of our journey in Phoenix, Arizona and proceeded around the Grand Canyon area to Las Vegas, where we took in some nightlife and tried not to lose too much at the slots. We then proceeded west to the Pacific Coast, up beautiful Highway 1 and into San Francisco. After a short stop in Wine Country, it was on to Seattle and then back toward Ohio. We're taking a break now to enjoy the magnificence of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Just 1,140 miles to go to get home (just in time for spring break)!

1 book = 10 miles; total miles traveled: 6,360

Books Collected to Date: 636 Goal: 750 Still Needed: 114

Update #4: March 18, 2004--We Made It, And Then Some!!

Just one word comes to mind to describe the progress we've made in our book drive for the Children's Hospital Reach Out and Read Program--FANTASTIC!!

Beginning the last leg of our journey at Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota, we needed to go about 1100 miles to get home. By collecting 461 books, we were able to parlay that into a 3,000 mile extension which takes us back to Columbus by way of your sunny spring break destination of choice. As of today, our total for this year's book drive is a whopping 1,097 books! Thanks to all who helped us meet the needs of a record number of Central Ohio children this year.

A special thanks goes to those who involved students and families in their efforts. Nick Beattie, a Perry Middle School student, made Reach Out and Read into a community service project and spearheaded the collection of over 160 books from his fellow students and teachers. The students councils of Worthington Park, Worthington Hills, Worthington Estates, and Worthingway also made this into a priority in their schools. Numerous teachers turned this into a class project, including Elaine Dentler, whose health students contributed 113 books to the cause. Kim Hanlin's Advanced Computer Skills classes pitched in by creating 120 customized bookmarks for children served by the Reach Out and Read Program. Together, we made this a community effort, and the results are astounding.

If you haven't made a donation yet, it's not too late. We will ask the Reach Out and Read staff to make an extra pick-up around the first of April. You can also contribute books at drop sites located in area Half Price Book Stores. As much as we've given, they can always use even more help. Remember that the Reach Out and Read program provides new age appropriate books to all children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years who visit Children's Hospital clinics around Central Ohio. Our involvement in this effort helps ensure that all children enter school ready to learn, regardless of their family background.

Again, thank you to all donors!

1 book = 10 miles; total miles traveled: 10,970

Books Collected to Date: 1370 Goal: 750 Number Over Goal: 620!!!

Remember that we're looking for new pre-school books for the Children's Hospital Reach Out and Read Program. Please continue to send your books to the WEA office and include a post-it to identify the donor. Thanks to the following groups and individuals who have sent in books as of noon on March 17. (Our apologies if we've missed anyone.) Remember that we’re looking for new pre-school books for the Reach Out and Read Program.

A big thank-you to the Worthington Hills Student Council for collecting nearly 150 books, as well as to a number of other adults and children who sent in their donations over the past few days. It's very encouraging to see so many students taking part in this year's book drive.

Thanks again to all who participated in this year’s Read Across America Book Drive, which is clearly the most successful we’ve ever sponsored.

2004 Read Across America Book Donations
Worthington Park 3rd Grade (Mrs. Dirr, Mrs. Beach, Mrs. Wilcox) (24)* *Cash donation of $120, or $5 per book
Worthingway Student Council (39)
Mrs. Saffell’s 1st Grade Class, Bluffsview
Karen Collins, Bluffsview (3)
Lynne Hamelberg, WEC (2)
Nan Wampler, WEC (3)
Nancy Grandstaff, WEC (2)
Lynn Nelson, TWHS (10)
Charlee Moore, TWHS/WKHS (4)
Anonymous (2)
Worthingway Reading/Math 7 Class
Slate Hill 4th Grade Team (Rick Fuller, Linda Foster, Carmie Hazlett)
Cindy Evans Craig, Colonial Hills (3)
Jerry Wilson, Wilson Hill (4)
Kathy Barkhurst, Worthington Estates (2)
Nancy Hellickson, Sutter Park (15)
Valerie Cahill, Worthington Park (2)
Anonymous, Worthington Park (8)
June White, Worthington Park (5)
Sandy Bell, Worthington Park (5)
Beth McHugh, Worthington Park (4)
97.1 Reading Festival Participants (9)
Deb Monroe, Bluffsview, and Fritz Monroe, Brookside (20)
Marty Schwarz, Bluffsview (3)
Bluffsview Staff and Students (22)
Cellantani Family, Bluffsview (3)
Marcia Buban, Bluffsview (2)
Carol Price, WEC (4)
Cheryl Rudin, Special Education (2)
Renee Linn, Bluffsview (2)
Lee Ann Parsons, Worthingway (3)
Letha Flynn, Worthingway
Ann Holl, Worthingway
Frank and Kathy Copeland, Worthingway

Bob Barkley, Worthington Resident (4)
Sue Mahrt, Wilson Hill (3)
Jan Gardner, Wilson Hill (2)
Rosemary Sartor, Granby
Debbie Gartley, Granby
Lisa Gonzales, Granby
Sue Mitchell, Wilson Hill (8)
Nancy Walcutt, Wilson Hill (4)
Rosalie Nehls, Wilson Hill (3)
Pam Brill, Wilson Hill (2)
Laurie Romeo and Vicky Watkins, Wilson Hill (3)
Mrs. Beck’s 1st grade class, Brookside (5)
Susan Dirr, Worthington Park (4)
Dawn Mack, Slate Hill
Tim Mack, Perry/KMS
Debbie Daup, Granby (4)
Zachary DeMartini, Mrs. McHugh/Mrs. Miller’s PM Kindergarten Class, Worthington Park (11)
Linda Evans, Perry
Dale Winters, Perry
Tera Myhal, Granby (2)
Sue Otten, Wilson Hill (2)
Toni Gardiner, Bluffsview
Jessica and Katie Marielli, Worthington Park (14)
Worthington Park Staff and Students (24)
Jo Hall, Evening Street
Sue O’Rourke, Evening Street (2)
Sharon Strock, Evening Street (2)
Patty Eakins, Evening Street (3)
Evening Street Students and Staff (25)
Sandy Downie, Sutter Park (15)
Mrs. Bell and Mrs. White’s Primary Cluster Class, Worthington Park (57)
(Including Josie Kasprzak, Joshua Graham, Sami Dinsmore, Erika Delpin, Nandini S., Dannie Prince, and Lamija Alisic)

Worthington Hills Student Council (146)
Mrs. Bell and Mrs. White’s Primary Cluster Class, Worthington Park (63)
(Including Josie Kasprzak, Joshua Graham, Sami Dinsmore, Erika Delpin, Nandini S., Dannie Prince, Trent Strick, Sarah Williams, Alexandra, Prajesh Rajkumar, Lamija Alisic, Brooklyn M., Sarah C., Daniel Wong)
Carmen Cordova, Wilson Hill (4)
Wendy Roush, Sutter Park (4)
Gail Keppler, Worthingway (3)
Beth Ann Zaenger, WEC
Libby Guffey, Sutter Park (2)
Tom Beck, EPP, NEA Director for Ohio (5)
Scott DiMauro, WEA President (5)
Worthington Education Association (39)
Thomas Worthington High School Computer Technology Students (120 bookmarks)

Perry Middle School Students and Staff, led by Nick Beattie (162)
Elaine Dentler’s Health Class Students, Kilbourne M.S. (113)
Worthington Park Student Council (64)
Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Cobb’s 2nd Grade Classes, Brookside (28)
Worthington Estates Student Council and Families (including the Engel, Benson, Roscigno, Welter, and Delacy families) (22)
Kathy Broom, WEC (5)*
Sally Vance, WKHS (2)
Karen Carpenter, Wilson Hill (3)
Kathy Kneubel, Evening Street (10)
Saundra Kelley, Evening Street (5)
Laura Laderach, Colonial Hills (2)*
Jill Carter, Colonial Hills (5)
Colonial Hills Staff (3)
Meg Peters, WEC (10)
Mary Yeager, Kilbourne M.S.
Dawn Mather, Kilbourne M.S. (12)
Stephanie Records, Kilbourne M.S.
Lisa Waickman, Kilbourne M.S. (2)
Anonymous, Kilbourne M.S. (2)
Susie Wade, Bluffsview (5)

Scott Miller, Kilbourne M.S.
Annette DiMauro, Kilbourne M.S. (5)
Carol Dodge, Special Education (3)
McCord Middle School Student Council (88)
McCord Middle School Staff (31)
McCord Middle School Students (20)
Evening Street Staff and Students (121)
Ms. Laird’s Library Helpers, Liberty
Mrs. Swabb’s 6th grade class, Wilson Hill (8)
Kathy McCulloch, Wilson Hill
Sandy St. Cyr, Worthington Estates (3)

* indicates cash contribution ($5 = 1 book)

THANK YOU!!