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Mayor Joe Soto reads to students in support of National Reading Campaign
San Juan Mayor Joe Soto visited St. Margaret's Episcopal School Thursday as a "Celebrity Reader" to Lower School students as a part of the "Read Across America"" Campaign. As the Mayor shared the heartwarming tale of B.B. Wolf in the book, "Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf" by Judy Sierra, students leaned in as they eagerly waited to see what B.B. was going to do next. This week St. Margaret's participated in various activities to bring reading excitement to children of all ages.
"Reading is one of the most important things that we will ever learn to do...and through supporting programs such as "Read Across America," our students realize that the more they read, the better they become at reading," says Lower School Librarian Victoria Burnett. The hope in having Celebrity Readers is that when students see community leaders like the Mayor, taking the time to read to them, it reinforces and broadens their personal view that reading is something that successful people do.
According to Mayor Soto, one of the things he enjoys most about his role is that he is able to come to schools and interact with students. "It is important for me to stop and take time to read to you because one day one of you may become the president or governor or even mayor," he said as he explained to students the importance of taking the time out of your day to read.
Other celebrity readers who shared stories with students this past week included St. Margaret's Headmaster Marcus Hurlbut, San Juan Fire Chief Mike Petro, and some of St. Margaret's teachers and parents. Today, in honor of the last day of the "Read Across America" Campaign Lower School students took some time to stop and read for 20 minutes as a closing tribute.
Read Across America is a national campaign that culminates each year on March 2, the birthday of the beloved children's author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. The program provides children with the motivation to read and delivers an important message: Kids who read - and are read to - do better in school and in life. It strives to provide children the resources and activities that they need to keep reading on their calendar 365 days a year. Originally created as a one-day event to celebrate the joy of reading, National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America, sponsored by the NEA, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., and more than 50 national sponsors including the National Football League Players Association, has grown into the nation's largest reading celebration.
Contact:
Anne Mack
949.661.0108 x252
949.400.2055 (mobile)
anne.mack@smes.org
