Dutch Broadway kicks off reading program

Donna Washington, center, with Dutch Broadway’s kindergarten class.

Courtesy Sherri Candel

Donna Washington, right, with Dutch Broadway students Dkahri Dennis, far left, and Matthew McDoughall.

Courtesy Sherri Candel

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The Elmont Union Free School District’s Dutch Broadway Elementary School kicked off its 2011-2012 Parents As Reading Partners program on Oct. 21 with an interactive workshop and creative drama performance by Donna Washington, a professional storyteller, recording artist and author of four books, including “A Big Spooky House.”

PARP is a statewide, PTA-administered program that asks parents to read with their children for at least fifteen minutes daily. The theme of the award-winning PARP program this year is “Be Patriotic – Read About Our Heroes!” Each month brings a new trivia clue for students to research, and first-graders at Dutch Broadway have begun their 10-week “Running Start” program, which establishes positive reading habits at home. Throughout the year, the PARP committee will sponsor “Family Literacy Nights”; in November, the program will hold a “Family Funny Reading Night.”

Dutch Broadway was recently awarded the 2011 Nassau PARP Award with the theme “Here’s to Our Heroes-Readers Save the Day.” The school also won the New York State PARP Award, which will be presented in January 2012.

According to Principal Walter Aksionoff, the PARP program is integrated into the curriculum throughout the year. “We need to get our children to read, for the love of reading,” he said. “With the help of our parents we strive for all our students to flourish academically.”