by Gina Greco
The Town of Webb school’s Pick A Reading Partner (PARP) will kick-off their 2016 program for students in grades kindergarten through fifth on Friday, February 19th in the school’s distance learning room.
This year, the program adopted a new name. PARP had previously stood for Parents As Reading Partners.
“So many kids don’t always have access to reading with their parents,” said Judy Ehrensbeck, Town of Webb school teacher and one of the PARP organizers.
Jolene Finn, the new Library Media Specialist, and Gayle Ritz, third grade teacher, have been involved in this year’s PARP planning also, Ehrensbeck said.
This year’s theme is “Superheroes,” a continuation of a theme used by Old Forge Library’s Summer Reading Program.
“I thought it would work well for our PARP program,” Ehrensbeck said.
During Friday’s kick-off, elementary teachers and other staff members will be wearing custom sweatshirts that read: “I teach, what’s your super power?”
Ms. Ehrensbeck credits Tracey Down with the idea and the purchase of the shirts.
Elementary teachers were also asked to decorate their doors according to theme.
“I can’t promise that they will all be decorated, but folks have yet to disappoint,” Ehrensbeck said.
“I think the students will like the theme. It has been fun coming up with ideas for prizes and activities,” she added.
PARP is a four-week reading program that encourages kids to read five days a week, fifteen minutes a day, according to Ehrensbeck.
The overall goal is to get 85 percent of K–5 students to participate all four weeks, she said.
“If the students read the entire five days a week for fifteen minutes a day, they will receive a theme-based prize for that week.”
Also new this year, the National Honor Society (NHS) will be teaming up with PARP, Ehrensbeck said.
“Small groups of NHS members will visit each classroom and read with the students,” she said.
Ms. Ehrensbeck said the main purpose of the program is to help kids develop better reading habits.
“We encourage students to read with a parent, but with our new title, we are hoping that students will find any family member or friend to spend fifteen minutes each day reading together,” she said.
“Studies have shown that reading for pleasure is one of the best ways to increase vocabulary and improve comprehension skills. We are hoping that we can add some fun to an already worthwhile, lifelong habit,” Ehrensbeck said.
Students that reach their reading goals by the end of the program will be awarded their choice of book at the April book fair.
The Tom Bernatchez Young Scholars Fund will be providing the funding for their book purchase, according to Ehrensbeck.
Those students will also be invited to attend a theme-based movie on Wednesday, March 16th.
As for the Grand Finale, Ehrensbeck said that Webb Superintendent Rex Germer and Principal John Swick will battle in a one-on-one Administrative Challenge.
She said there is also a button design contest every year. The winner’s design will be produced and passed out to the students.
Old Forge Library’s PARP program will be held in conjunction with that of Webb School on Fridays, February 19 through March 11.
The library will have a special collection of books for lending that are related to this year’s theme.
In addition, on February 26, March 4, and March 11 there will be a drawing at the library and the lucky winner will win a prize provided by the Friends of the Library.
Town of Webb, Town of Inlet, and home-schooled students may enter the drawing each week by checking out books.
Parents and other reading partners are encouraged to come with students and check out books together.