Celebrating 34 years of PARP literacy week at Glen Cove city schools

The Glen Cove City School District’s four elementary schools—Deasy, Gribbin, Landing, and Connolly—recently completed their 34th annual Pick-A-Reading-Partner (PARP) Program, a beloved initiative designed to foster a lifelong love of reading. This year’s theme, “Reading is My Superpower,” encouraged students to embrace the magic of books while participating in engaging literacy-based activities, special guest visits, and community involvement.
Sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association and organized by dedicated school PARP committees, the program featured a Read-a-thon Challenge in which students collectively aimed to read thousands of minutes to earn a special reward. Connolly School, for example, set a goal of 34,000 minutes in one week—a challenge that students met, unlocking the Principal’s Obstacle Course Challenge. “Each year, we try to make it a little more exciting and challenging,” said Connolly Principal Bryce Klatsky. “It’s always a fun week for us because we get to dress up, be a bit sillier, and share our love for reading.”
At Connolly School, students were greeted each morning by Principal “Super Captain” Klatsky, who reinforced the message that “Reading Is Our Superpower!” Activities included a superhero dress-up day, a Vocabulary Parade, and an assembly with author and illustrator D. Jude Miller. The Community Readers program was a highlight, with notable local figures—including Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, city council members, Assemblymember Charles Lavine, and firefighters—visiting classrooms to share stories and discuss the role of reading in their daily lives. “When kids see someone from the fire department, the mayor, or a city council member reading, it shows them that literacy extends beyond school,” said Klatsky.
Landing School also hosted a week of literacy-focused excitement. Author D. Jude Miller captivated students with storytelling and character illustrations, while police officers and district administrators participated in read-aloud sessions. Students also participated in the PARP Olympics, where they competed in reading-related challenges.
Deasy School’s celebration kicked off with a spirited assembly before students took part in Community Reader Day, where volunteers shared stories in classrooms. Author Claudia Marra introduced students to her book There’s Something About Pizza, using a universally loved topic to inspire young readers. The Deasy PTA transformed part of the school into Superhero Headquarters, reinforcing the theme. The week wrapped up with an interactive read-aloud session led by reading teachers, with snacks provided by the PTA.

Gribbin School’s students were in for a surprise when “Super Reader” Ms. Russo emerged from a giant book-themed box at the PARP Kickoff Assembly to inspire them. Throughout the week, buddy reading sessions paired students across grade levels, concluding with a superhero dress-up day to reinforce the power of reading.
Each year, the Principal’s Challenge serves as a key motivator, changing annually to keep students engaged. “We’ve done a dunk tank, a drum competition, even singing and dancing,” said Klatsky. “This year, it was an obstacle course where students competed against the principals—and, of course, the students won.” The challenge featured activities such as tug-of-war, hula hoop contests, and Oreo-stacking.
Beyond the fun, the program has led to tangible improvements in literacy across Glen Cove schools. Klatsky noted that reading scores have risen significantly. “We ran some data recently, and at Connolly School, 65 percent of students are reading at or above benchmark expectations, including English language learners and students with special needs.” He attributes this success to both the excitement generated by PARP and instructional improvements. “If kids aren’t excited about reading, then we’re fighting an uphill battle,” he said.
Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, a former computer science teacher, highlighted the significance of literacy. “If you can read, you can do anything,” she said. “Reading is just so important, and one of the nicest highlights of my job is going out to see the students so engaged.”
The Pick-A-Reading-Partner Program has been a pillar of literacy education in Glen Cove for more than three decades. “We’ve seen that students and their families get more excited each year as our events grow,” said Klatsky. “We’re proud of the culture of literacy we’ve built in Glen Cove.”