BY ALICIA DORSET
Clarkston News Staff Writer
The month of March is filled with important events and celebrations such as American Red Cross Month and Women’s and Deaf History Month.
For Clarkston Community Schools, March 1 marked the beginning of their own important celebration: March is Reading Month.
With each school celebrating the month in a different way, Clarkston schools prepared to celebrate the theme with individual styles to remind students the benefits of reading.
‘It’s a foundation of life in the sense of being a productive citizen,? Sharon Crain, Springfield Plains Elementary media specialist, said. ‘There are so many things in life you can’t do if you can’t read.?
Using the theme of ‘Dive Into Your Dreams?, Crain organized a month filled with different daily activities. Students spent the afternoon of Feb. 27 at a kick off assembly in which staff members dressed up in different career costumes (related to the school’s ‘dream? theme) and sang their own version of the Village People’s ‘YMCA? to boost enthusiasm.
Students at Independence Elementary will be introduced to ‘Reading is a Sweet Adventure?, a theme developed by staff member Laurie Stevenson, all month as class gumball machine reading meters record how many hours each classroom reads.
Well-known authors and illustrators will visit the school district this month as part of the celebration, targeting various grades. Guest readers will be seen throughout the district, such as Bailey Lake Elementary. Rep. John Stakoe read to a group of fifth graders on March 1 to start the reading month.
Pine Knob Elementary is reminding students that they can ‘Count on Books? this month with their theme.
‘We tried to tie in a theme to all authors,? Tamara Hamilton, PKE media specialist, said in reference to the visiting authors. ‘All three authors are different and our committee wanted to include them all.?
Not only is March a month of national reading, but it’s also the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Seuss, a reading favorite.
Students at North Sashabaw Elementary celebrated Dr. Seuss? birthday on March 2 with singing, cake and candles and Independence Elementary sponsored an ‘All Seuss, All the Time? day where someone was reading a Seuss story in the school at all times.
‘We have a teacher dressing up like Dr. Seuss and ‘Sam I Am? is coming in,? Lori Kokones, NSE media specialist, said. Kokones found it fun to celebrate Seuss? birthday all month and not just one day.
Sashabaw Middle School will be wrapping up a three-month reading incentive, the Cougar Book Club, with a grand prize drawing on the last day of March for student participants.
Even the Clarkston High School media center, as well as other points throughout the building, will feature student reading recommendations.
The strong dedication to reading throughout the district reflects a desire to reinforce one of the basic fundamentals of education.
‘We always try to focus on reading,? Kokones said. ‘You can’t use technology if you can’t read. The activities and authors send a message of importance.?
Working hard to bring quality celebrations to the district is the Spring into Reading Committee, a group that has been coordinating activities for the district in conjunction with PTOs, PTAs and the Clarkston Foundation.
The group will host its first annual banquet on Apr. 6 at the Liberty Golf Conference Center to benefit the four authors and illustrator that will be visiting the district this spring. Not only will the authors visit the schools they will also make appearances at the Sprinfield Township library.