Students recently leaned into their love of literature through Arroyo Vista Elementary’s Read Across America festivities last week.
Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. It was launched in 1998 by the National Education Association and guided by a committee of educators.
“This year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone,” according to the NEA.
For the occasion, Arroyo Vista mothers Lori Davis Denny, Ananda Kendall, Hilary Graves and Sanly Yuen-Li created vignettes with literary characters popular among the students. These decorations were displayed at multiple campus locations, including the lunch pavilion, which was transformed into Hogwarts from the “Harry Potter” series.
Arroyo Vista’s stage area also received a makeover. The scene transported students to Mount Olympus from the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series. Another vignette created on campus celebrated Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” with a giant Wonka bar and lollipops.
Additionally, second grade teacher Brian Jehue recruited a small group of talented artists from the community to color the sidewalks in with pictures of the students’ favorite book characters.
Arroyo Vista librarian Selena Baydaline compiled book recommendations from the entire school staff and decorated the library windows with “staff picks” for students to explore. She also encouraged students to post their favorite book titles for their peers.
To add to the fun, each day of the week had its own dress-up theme, where students came to school in pajamas, crazy hats, creative hairdos, school spirit gear, tie dye and book character-inspired costumes.
Community members also contributed by reading books to students. Some of the readers included former mayors, police officers and firefighters, actors, parents, School Board members, Arroyo Vista alumni, and the school’s very own Whiskers.
First published in the March 8 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
