Local community members help celebrate reading

WEBUTUCK — The Webutuck Central School District’s month-long participation in the PARP (People As Reading Partners) program  culminated last Friday, March 27, in a Read Aloud day at Webutuck Elementary School.

Ten members of the community stopped by the school to read a few of their favorite stories to the students.

Some readers were current teachers and school staff, including Eric Wiener, the school’s general music teacher, and Katy McEnroe, the Webutuck and Amenia elementary schools’ principal. Some were retired teachers, like Roger and Diane Price and Ellen Terni. Others work in public services, like Miriam Devine, who is the head librarian at the Amenia Free Library, and Deputy George Strid, a sheriff’s deputy who is the resource officer at the high school. Finally, representatives from private businesses stopped by to read as well, from Dick Hermans, owner of Oblong Books & Music, to veterinarian Dr. Julian Strauss and Whitney Joseph, editor of The Millerton News.

At Webutuck Elementary, all classrooms participated in PARP. This year’s activities have been organized by librarian Barbara Carr and teacher Tonise Baker. For Read Aloud day, students were chosen from each classroom to escort the readers to their assigned rooms.

Some readers brought their own books and others took suggestions from the librarian. Hermans brought an edition of “Three Cups of Tea� with him, saying that his daughter had picked it out for him to read. Devine brought “Two Bobbies,� a story about a cat and dog in the midst of Hurricane Katrina.

“The kids loved it,� she said, adding that reading to children is “one of my favorite things of all time.� She was especially impressed with the level of attention that Mr. White’s third-grade classroom showed her story.

Strauss, who represented the Amenia Historical Society, brought in a memoir written by Christine Hoffbeck McGhee, and told his class about the history of the surrounding area.

“They enjoyed it,� he said. “I was surprised to see that kids knew about a lot of the places I referred to.� Strauss hoped he could help raise youth interest in local history.

PARP has been celebrated in many ways during the last month. Students have been filling out PARP time sheets each week, keeping  a record of when they have read for at least 15 minutes every day. Students who have read at least five days a week have been rewarded with a prize. Students who have passed that mark every week throughout March have been invited to a special party, to be held tomorrow.

 Dakota Wilbur, 9, has read two books already for the PARP program, and even though it’s over now, she’s going to continue reading.

“I enjoyed them a lot,� she said, naming the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid� series as well “Goosebumps� among her favorites.

Joan Calderon, 10, said he also enjoyed the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid� series, which seemed to be a favorite among students.

“I like how it always keeps me laughing,� he said. He has finished the first book and plans to continue reading the series.

“There’s been a huge response,� Carr said, noting that many students will be eligible for this week’s party. “I’ve talked to teachers and the kids genuinely seem to enjoy all the reading activities.�