GTC launches Readathon craze, book fair

Months of planning and preparation have resulted in one of the CNMI’s most inspiring school reading programs, with chairpersons Del Babauta and Charlotte Camacho stimulating over 300 Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School students to read over 2,000 books in two weeks.

During these two weeks, GTC students were also introduced to the magic of reading by the guest appearances of several community dignitaries, from Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente to PSS Commissioner Edward Camacho and Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.

“The message we try to convey throughout these activities is that reading is very important even if it takes a mere 10 minutes a day. That little amount of time to just sit and read will lead to so much more success,” said co-chair Camacho.

During these two weeks of reading excitement, GTC students brought out the books that they made in their classrooms to share with the schools. The cafeteria is usually quiet after the students eat quickly and go outside to play. However, during these two weeks of the Readathon Craze, kids chose to stay indoors to read their books to others or to read the books others have written.

The GTC staff believes that this Book Fair was fun enough to encourage more writing and reading among their students.

The GTC Parents Association also had a chance to view the literature created by the kids when they arrived for a Parents Teachers Association meeting.

Spirit Week was also in effect to promote attendance for these events, as well as cooperation among the students. Monday was Inside Out Day, Tuesday was Mismatch Day, Wednesday was Hat or Sunglasses Day, Thursday was Crazy Hair Day, and Friday was the Field Day.

As a finale of the Readathon Craze, Field Day was planned with activity booths like book-making, sand art crafts, music and movement, flag football, and a colorful parachute game for the students.

The Field Day ended with an award ceremony that gave out recognition as well as incentives like pizza coupons, movie passes, and ice cream coupons to kids who read the most books, the class that read the most books, and the class with the most spirit.

“Next year we will do this Readathon craze over a longer period of time so that the kids will be able to read more books,” said GTC principal Babauta.

“This was a first readathon for GTC school and what a success it was. There are endless possibilities of greater success for this coming school year. Great job, readers, and don’t forget to read during the summer also,” she added. (Leora Ngirablosch)