Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Elementary students exceed 100,000-minute reading challenge; principals kiss farm animals as promised
Loading...
Summary
Students at Homer Central's elementary school met a 100,000-minute reading goal in a district reading challenge run with the local library; top student readers were recognized and district administrators fulfilled a playful promise to kiss farm animals at an assembly.
Students at Homer Central Elementary surpassed a collective reading goal and were recognized at a school board meeting presentation on Thursday, staff and library partners said.
Mr. Pasquerella (staff member) introduced a group of elementary students and staff who described a spring reading challenge run in partnership with the Phillips Library. A library representative, Nancy, said the library held a winter reading challenge that dovetailed with the school's program and provided prizes and raffle entries for students who logged their minutes.
Organizers told the board the program aimed for 100,000 total minutes — a target meant to reflect about 10 minutes per student per day — and that the students reached the goal. The elementary presenters said the school set class prizes such as extra recess, popcorn parties and a pizza party for the top class in each grade.
Student winners named at the meeting and their reported minutes were: Leah Bacon (pre-K) — 850 minutes; Abigail Foster — 2,335 minutes; Gavin Glendell — 337 minutes; Ava Bennett — 1,925 minutes; and Keldon McTavich — 1,595 minutes. Presenters described these students as "the stars of our show" and presented certificates to each.
As a lighthearted finale tied to the fundraising goal, school staff had promised that administrators would kiss a surprise farm animal if students met the target. Presenters said goats, a donkey and a mini horse were brought in for the assembly and that administrators participated.
Presenters emphasized that the challenge promoted collective participation and student engagement: students tracked their own progress and classes worked together toward shared goals. Library and school staff thanked the adults who coordinated the event and encouraged families to visit the library and support reading activities.
Board members applauded the students and were invited to remain for the rest of the meeting or depart after the presentation.
