Cornwell Avenue kids celebrate a city of literacy in West Hempstead

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West Hempstead’s Cornwell Avenue Elementary School held its inaugural Literacy Week celebration from Feb. 12-16. This initiative was developed with the goal of promoting a love of literacy and good reading habits, as well as fostering a lifelong love of reading.

The first year of the program was a great success and featured the theme “New York, New York.” Students and staff members participated in an assortment of reading and writing activities that presented fun educational components and enthusiasm for learning.

Literacy Week kicked off with a Vocabulary Day Parade. Students donned costumes made from recycled materials and based on words and phrases that signify New York City, such as the Empire State Building, the NYPD, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and The Big Apple. Students made their way through the halls, displaying their words for all to see.

The week continued with a school-wide “Drop Everything and Read” time that invited students to bring in their favorite books to read, while a writing exercise encouraged them to describe their perfect day in New York City or an actual visit they experienced.

Classes were surprised by mystery guest readers who shared “New York, New York” books with students, as well as teachers who came to school dressed as their favorite book characters. The week culminated with a movie viewing of “Night at the Museum,” which tied in with Milan Trenc’s book of the same name that classes had read prior.