Monday, December 2, 2024
More than 30 community members, including local officials, business owners, church leaders, veterans, and medical professionals, gathered at St. Agnes Cathedral School last Friday to share their love of reading during the school’s annual Community Readers’ Day.
Now in its 23rd year, the event aims to foster connections between students and their community while encouraging a lifelong love of reading.
Volunteers brought their chosen books to the school cafeteria early on Nov. 17, where they were paired with students who escorted them to classrooms for individual reading sessions.
“This tradition started before my time here, but we’re so proud to continue it,” said Principal Cecilia St. John. “It’s a wonderful way to welcome community leaders into our school.”
Each of the school’s 35 homerooms hosted a reader, with preparations starting in early October.
“We try to reach out to our community and really emphasize a love of reading and help nurture that,” St. John said. “The readers enjoy the day as much as the children.”
Each of the school’s 35 homeroom classrooms welcomed a reader. The event is carefully organized, with students and staff beginning preparations as early as October to ensure a meaningful experience.
Readers bring their own books, selecting stories tied to themes of community or which provide a meaningful lesson. Each reader also shares a little bit about themselves, what they do in the village and why they selected their book.
“The kids absolutely love it,” she said. “It a great way for students to engage with them and learn about what they do.”
Many participants enjoy it so much they look forward to returning the following year to read to an entirely different class.
“From when I first got here to now,” St. John said, “the enthusiasm for it has just grown.”
The school provides a variety of guests each year to ensure that students broaden their horizons by introducing them to different members of the community.
The school also ensures variety each year to broaden students’ exposure to different community members.
“We make sure the same group doesn’t have the same reader every year,” St. John added. “I think it’s important for the children to meet new people from the community and learn about what they do.”
Now in its 23rd year, having missed two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, Community Readers’ Day continues to bring joy to students and the surrounding community.
