Events mark special reading day

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Students in Freehold Township schools took part in the 11th annual National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America celebration on March 3. According to a press release, students were involved in various activities throughout the day to promote enthusiasm for reading. Parents and community leaders also participated at the schools as guest readers.

As students arrived in the morning at the Marshall W. Errickson School they were greeted by the Cat in the Hat in a decorated car. Freehold Township Mayor Eugene Golub, Township Committeewoman Dorothy Avallone, Police Officer Todd Smith and Freehold Township High School student-athletes were some of the guest readers at the Errickson school.

To welcome the readers, parents and teachers set up a café area with light refreshments and Dr. Seuss books for browsing before they were brought to assigned classes for reading.

At the Joseph J. Catena School, fifthgraders started the day by reading to Laura Donovan School first-graders on the other side of town via the use of a webcam. Janet Griffin, media specialist at Catena, organized the web conference for fifth-graders to perform readers' theater stories for the Donovan pupils.

"It was very exciting to truly Read Across America, or at least the district," Griffin said.

In the afternoon, Catena students were visited by Buster, the Lakewood Blue- Claws mascot. BlueClaws special events manager Steve Farago accompanied Buster to read a story adapted from "Casey at the Bat" as Buster acted it out.

"Kids love to see Buster and we are happy to be part of this day," Farago said.

At Donovan, in addition to the webcam event, several guest readers also visited during the day.

According to the NEA, Read Across America, the nation's largest reading celebration, continues to grow. Organizers have said that all around the nation, schools share the love of reading with celebrations big and small.