Zarahy Guerrero, a soccer player for McNary High School, reads to students at Kennedy Elementary School on Monday, March 2. She is one of roughly 16 volunteers who did so for the school's Read Across America Day celebration. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)
Students in classrooms at Kennedy Elementary School gathered around volunteers reading from picture books. Some students leaned forward in their seats, listening close to hear the end of the stories.
In honor of National Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2, also the birthday of late children’s author Dr. Seuss, the school drew local volunteers to read. Guest readers included Keizer Police Department officers and athletes from McNary High School’s soccer teams.
Principal Kelsey Harris estimated 16 community volunteers participated, which also involved a “book character dress up day.” In classrooms, students gathered around tables, on the floor in front of their guest reader or listened from their desks.
Read Across America is a program from the National Education Association, a labor union representing educators. According to a press release from the union, the program “promotes literacy, encourages a love of reading, and honors the importance of books in our lives.”
Keizer Police Cadet Baylee Lawyer reads to Kennedy Elementary School kindergarteners on Monday, March 2 as part of the school’s Read Across America Day celebration. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Kennedy Elementary School kindergarteners listen to Keizer Police Department’s Baylee Lawyer read a book on Monday, March 2. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Anthony Lopez Macias, McNary High School soccer player, reads to Kennedy Elementary School students on Monday, March 2. He is one of several McNary soccer players to volunteer to do so as part of the school’s Read Across America Day celebration. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Kennedy Elementary School students pay close attention as Keizer Police Department’s Danielle Breitbach reads to them on Monday, March 2. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Danielle Breitbach, community services officer with t he Keizer Police Department, reads to students at Kennedy Elementary School on Monday, March 2. She volunteered to participate as part of the school’s Read Across America Day celebration. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Kennedy Elementary School students listen to McNary soccer players read to them on Monday, March 2. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)A Kennedy Elementary School student listens closely to two McNary soccer players read to the class as part of the school’s Read Across America Day celebration on Monday, March 2. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Ramses Cuello Macias, a soccer player at McNary High School, reads to Kennedy Elementary School students during the school’s Read Across America Day celebration on Monday, March 2. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes)Kennedy Elementary School students listen closely as a volunteer reads to them on Monday, March 2. Volunteers read to students throughout the school as part of its celebration of Read Across America Day. (KRISTA KROISS/Keizertimes.
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