PAWS TO READ: Family literacy event draws readers of all ages
PHOTOS BY KATIE GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
Wyatt Tata, Dalton second grader, reads to therapy dog, Valorie, during the annual Family Literacy Night.
Dalton kindergartner Cora Jackson shows an astronaut helmet she made during the annual Family Literacy Night March 5 at Dalton Elementary School.
Kindergartner Remington Schoby at Dalton’s annual Family Literacy Night which had the theme: “Reading is out of this world.”
Finnick Emert, Dalton kindergartner, looks at a book with his mom, Sarah Emert, and sister Margaret.
Dalton kindergartners Nora Brenneman and Remington Schoby.
Bev Hartzler’s therapy dog, Valorie.
By CHRISTINA McCUNE
DGKN managing editor
DALTON Students and their families, as well as Dalton Local teachers and staff proved they love reading to the moon and back – and beyond – at the annual Family Literacy Night put on at Dalton Elementary School.
The spring event is a hit each year with young readers and their families and this time the activities were out of this world.
Nearly 400 attended the March 5 festivities, which is 100 more people than last year, said Kara Good, one of the organizers and Title I teacher.
“Family Literacy Night brings families and school together to celebrate the importance of literacy,” Good said. “Students and their families can enjoy hands-on activities while learning simple ways to support reading, writing and language at home. It’s a fun way to build a love of reading, writing, and learning while strengthening the connection between home and school.”
This year’s theme was “Reading is out of this world” and stations in the Commons area, hallways, classrooms, music room, library and other areas included snacks, word puzzles and coloring pages, What’s Your Astronaut Name?, games, bingo, crafts, videos, a space photo booth, book fair and more all in the name of reading and space exploration.
“The building was decorated in a space theme with bulletin boards, artwork and space facts,” Good said. “It was also Right to Read Week at Dalton Elementary, hosted by our second grade teachers, so classrooms participated in space-themed activities throughout the entire week.”
The Paws to Read program where children read to therapy dogs was a popular station, Good said, as well as alien and astronaut crafts, constellation snacks – making constellations out of marshmallows and pretzel sticks, and My Planet Discovery, which was creating, naming and writing about a new planet discovery.
“Nonsense Word BINGO for books is always a big hit!” Good said. “All BINGOs get to pick out a new book.” She said the outer space pod, an area decorated as an outer space station, was another popular station. “We could not have done it without so many wonderful volunteers,” Good wrote in an email after the event.
“We had Teresa Jager from the Dalton Library, seven different dogs and handlers from Caring Therapy Canines, and the Orrville United Way,” Good said. “Our PTO also had the Scholastic Book Fair open for business during Literacy Night.”
Literacy Night was planned by Dalton’s Title 1 team, which along with Good includes Kelly Wenger, Hillary Harlow, Julie Feller, Lisa Miller, and Robyn Green.
“We had many building and district volunteers to help run the stations: Alyssa Hutson, Ellen Rohrer, Lisa Smith, Amanda Thiel, Mim Scheetz, Kayla Scruggs, Kathy Detweiler, Suzanne Roebuck, Rachel McBeth, Sarah Wyckoff and her student teacher, Brooke Brenner, Steve Watkins, Lisa Zona, and Cherie Marthey,” Good said. “We also had several NHS (National Honor Society) students from the high school volunteer their time to help: Grace Dorffer, Chloe Ruehling, Myah Lehman, Leah Lehman, Judah Hershberger, Rayna Boyer and Sophie Stutzman.”
