Students who reach their reading goals are high-fived and highly celebrated by staff and fellow students Friday at Mountain Elementary School. Courtesy photo
Mountain Elementary School reading champions, front row from left, Julia Doebling, Anders Medin, Alex Meek and Henry Middleton. Back row from left, Nora Johnson, Ben Dattelbaum and Imogen Middleton. Courtesy photo
Fifth grader Nora Johnson has read 30 books and written 30 book reviews since the beginning of the school year. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Anders Medin and Julia Doebling are celebrated in the school hallway Friday for meeting their reading goals. Courtesy photo
Alex Meek and Imogen Middleton run through the hallway with permission Friday at Mountain Elementary School. Courtesy photo
Fifth grader Nora Johnson has read 30 books and written 30 book reviews since the beginning of the school year. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Third grader, Ben Dattelbaum is honored Friday for meeting his goal of reading 30 books. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Mountain Elementary School Principal Jennifer Guy, left, and secretary Sandi Osborn announce the names of students Friday who met their reading goal and get to run in the hallways. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
The only time students are allowed to run in the halls at Mountain Elementary School is to celebrate reading success, according to Principal Jennifer Guy.
Students set reading goals with their teachers at the beginning of the school year and when they reach those goals, they get to run through the halls with the entire school cheering them on. Last Friday, there were lots of smiles and high fives and it was clear that both staff and students look forward to the runs.
Guy says she started the program as a way to recognize students for their hard work.
“I believe that our students need opportunities to set goals for themselves and the chance to celebrate their successes. It is awesome to see the entire school take a few minutes to cheer for their peers and celebrate learning,” Guy said. “They are always genuinely happy for each other. It makes me proud to see the students encourage and celebrate each other for meeting their goals.”
Nora Johnson, 11, is in Shanda Moore’s fifth grade class and has read 30 books and written 30 book reviews since August. She said she has read lots of good books and that her favorite was “Savvy” by Ingrid Law, a Newbery Honor book about a preteen whose grandfather moves mountains and whose brother causes hurricanes, who is trying to find her own unique ability.
Johnson says she is glad Guy started the runs program because it really encourages the students to read and meet their goals. She said her father, Jeff Johnson, is presently reading “To Kill a Mocking Bird” by Harper Lee aloud to her.
Third grader, Ben Dattelbaum said he also has read 30 books already this year and liked getting to run in the hallways with everyone cheering. An avid Orioles fan, his favorite book was “Who Was Babe Ruth?”, a biography of the baseball legend by Joan Holub. Dattelbaum also enjoyed “Awful Ogre’s Awful Day”, a funny collection of poems by Jack Prelutsky and Paul D. Zelinsky. His teacher is Jennifer Montoya.
