Woodhull PARP Carries Presidential Theme
A late winter snow storm pushed back the start of Woodhull Intermediate School’s Parents-as-Reading Partners program by a day, but didn’t stop a successful two-week run that saw reading reach new heights as hundreds of youngsters fell in love with the activity.
This year the program carried a presidential theme and included a mystery game related to the nearly four dozen men who have held the government’s top job.
A kick-off assembly witnessed 23 students representing each of the school’s classes, carrying large portraits of presidents as the youngsters marched into a crowded gym to the sounds of the Star Spangled Banner. The students assumed the identity of their respective president, introducing themselves and offering up an interesting personal tidbit.
The assembly laid the groundwork for a fun game that saw daily clues being dispensed each afternoon until the final day when the mystery president was finally revealed. There was even a “Where’s Waldo” type of contest with small pictures of presidents hidden around the school each day. If a student found one, and could identify the individual, they received a special prize. Lots of pictures were hidden so as to result in plenty of winners. The prizes were small but the youngsters were nonetheless thrilled to discover a hidden president and claim their reward.
Woodhull’s PARP committee included teachers Patrice Monks, Evelyn Gousis and Dorene Karivalis and the program’s PTA Chairperson Bari Fehrs. The group worked with faculty, parents and Principal Ken Card to create an enjoyable experience.
During “Poem in your Pocket Day” students carried around poems they either wrote themselves or copied from another author. If the youngsters could produce and read it when chosen randomly to do so by either a teacher or Dr. Card, they received a prize.
During the initiative’s second week, a book swap was held as a way of getting a fresh book into the hands of every student that wanted one, without the expense of having to purchase one at a store. “Everyone has books in great condition that they are happy to pass on and in return the student gets to pick out a book that's new to them,” explained Mrs. Fehrs.
During Woodhull’s PARP finale, the “presidents” marched back into the school gym and the mystery president was finally revealed. Most students guessed it would be Barack Obama, but organizers figured that would have been too easy. So, they turned the tables on the youngsters when the youngsters were told it was John F. Kennedy.
“The thing that made it great was that the kids were learning about presidents in such a fun way that they didn't even realize they were working and doing research,” Mrs. Fehrs said. “It was a game to them.”
This year’s effort also saw heightened participation by Woodhull’s teachers, many of whom created interesting ideas that spurred increased student participation, interaction and excitement and got the kids reading at record levels.
As is always the case, the program’s ultimate success came down to making a determination of whether or not it produced increased student reading. Yes, yes, yes was the Woodhull School community’s resounding answer.
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