The turnout Sunday at D.C. Canegata Ballpark for the closeout of Gov. John deJongh’s Summer Reading Challenge program, with hundreds of cheering parents and guardians, showed that “Yes” parents knew the value of their children reading.
He said the purpose of the program, which concluded ts second year, was to encourage children to get into reading and to have fun, and they couldn’t have done it without the parents.
“I really want to thank the parents who are such an important part of this program,” deJongh said. ”They encouraged and supported their children.”
On St. Croix, 267 students completed the challenge. All students in public and private schools got started with five complimentary books. The books were biographies, fiction and classics. Student participants who read five or more books during the Challenge were recognized Sunday for their achievements.
A huge trophy was awarded to Ricardo Richards Elementary, the largest school that read the most books. The small school award for the most books read went to St. Mary’s Elementary School.
Jabari Daniel, a 12-year-old student at Arthur A. Richards Junior High School, said the books took him to different places.
“Reading made new experiences for me,” Daniel said. “I really had fun reading.”
He said he enjoys adventure books.
The youngsters were given even more motivation than their parents cheering, with chances at great raffle prizes.
The Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas gave out seven luncheons on the ship. Kathy Bennett, owner of Under Cover Books, gave 10 gift certificates as raffle prizes. A Kindle e-bok reader was also given as a raffle prize.
The Challenge is a partnership between the Office of the Governor, the Department of Education, and Learn-It Systems Corporation, which provided the books. Sponsors also included Bellows International, Property and Procurement, St. Croix Reading Association and the Cultural Education Department.
The event was promoted as a“Fun Day” and included arts and crafts, music, clowning and more.
Angeli Ferdschneider, special assistant to the governor, said she loved seeing so many parents getting involved with their child’s reading. She added excess books are still available through the Womens Initiative.
