University Park Elementary celebrated the success of its annual Read UP fundraiser with a wild assembly in the school’s cafetorium.
But students weren’t the ones jumping, running, and flapping around during the Sept. 26 festivities.
They sat quietly so as not to intimidate their special guests from around the world: Miss Pickles, the Chinese burrowing bullfrog; Laffy Taffy, the ferret; Tina, the tegu lizard; Giggles, the laughing kookaburra; Calypso, the boa constrictor; and Sydney, the joey.
The assembly was the culmination of almost two weeks of devouring great reads for UP bookworms, who, Creature Teacher Emiley Brewer said, weren’t in danger of being eaten by any of her furry, slimy, and feathery friends.
Students laughed, gasped and, when they were given permission, clapped as Brewer and her companions took center stage.
“It’s like a talent show, but for animals,” said fourth-grader Elias Alfonzo, whose favorite performer was the boa constrictor.
Dedicated readers will give $95,000 back to their school thanks to their efforts during Read UP, which this year had a Wild about Reading theme. All students received special treats during their safari through reading, including animal crackers, animal straws, and erasers.
Students could mark their calendars for theme days during their reading adventure. On “Animal spotted!” day, they were able to bring a stuffed animal to school, and on “Climb into a good book!” day, they arrived with their favorite book.
“I think when a lot of us grew up we didn’t like reading because it was reading to learn. But we want them to learn to love reading,” explained Alex Meisel, who co-chaired the fundraiser with Emily Branson, Kristen Brantley, and Shelby Comeaux. The chairs dressed as an elephant, giraffe, hippo, and lion for the celebration.
Top Read UP fundraisers received special prizes, including coveted tokens for the school’s book vending machine, breakfast with a surprise guest reader, and bingo and a pizza lunch with principal Kim Banuelos.
Students had a goal of reading for about 20 minutes each day during Read UP. Those who went above and beyond were recognized on the Panther News, and the 10 students in each grade who read the most were rewarded with Supreme Reader yard signs.
The school’s top reader, fourth-grader Polel Montgomery, explained that reading is her hobby and she typically reads for two or three hours daily, sometimes even when it’s her bedtime.
“I read in the morning when I’m ready to leave. I read in the car when I’m going to school. I read during school. I read after school. I read before and after swim and while I’m in the car,” she said. “I just read.”
Fourth-grader Robert Allen, who read for more than 1,000 minutes, said he finished “a ton” of graphic novels during Read UP, including his favorite, “Wings of Fire.”
“I just read and read. When I wasn’t reading, I was probably eating or something,” he said. “Other than that, I was just reading.”
The event was an opportunity for pre-k through fourth graders to explore reading in all its forms. Chapter books, picture books, magazines, being read to by a parent or sibling, and audiobooks all counted toward students’ reading minutes, co-chair Meisel explained.
“The point,” she said, “is to love reading.”