By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
Reading was the theme for the day at Houlton’s junior high last Friday. The seventh grade students have a goal to raise $3,000 to pay for a trip to Bangor to see the play, “Sherlock Holmes” at the Penobscot Theatre. Students had obtained pledges from family members and friends for the daylong Read-A-Thon. Some students raised more than $100 each, hoping to reach their goal.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
GUEST READER — Little 5 year-old Hope Chernesky was a guest reader for the seventh grade Read-A-Thon held last Friday. Hope’s mom, Pam holds the book, “Gregory, the Terrible Eater” as her daughter reads to the class.
Each seventh grade classroom hosted a different theme for the day including, reader’s theatre, picture books, giants, silent reading and word games. Students rotated from room to room and participated in a variety of activities. Some of the classes were led by high school students, while others featured guest readers including Principal Marty Bouchard reading a familiar childhood story entitled, “Caps For Sale” and others.
Katie Wright transformed her classroom into a campsite complete with a tent and a campfire (electric) while students sat on quilts in their stocking feet to listen to spooky stories in the dark.
One special guest reader for the day was 5-year-old Hope Chernesky, daughter of reading teacher, Mickey Chernesky. Hope’s mother Pam assisted her daughter by holding the book, “Gregory, the Terrible Eater,” as she was reading to the classes.
Hope said that she was very excited to come to her Daddy’s school, but she was very nervous, too.
“I didn’t like everyone looking at me, so I just turned around and looked at the book to read.”
“Hope has been reading for about a year,” said Mrs. Chernesky. “She learned the letters in the alphabet when she was two years old and she has always been interested in print.”
Hope attends the pre-kindergarten program, but is looking forward to kindergarten.
The students raised more than half of their cost for their trip. The resources for field trips this year has been cut due to funding.
If you would like to donate to this project please call Houlton High School at 532-6551.
Houlton Pioneer Photo/Karen Donato
ACTING IT OUT — Cooper Blake, left, Kole Buzzeo, center and Steven Phillips took the roles of characters from a Junior Scholastic play, “The Newsies”, as they entertained their classmates during the 7th grade Read-A-Thon at Houlton Junior High last week.
Principal Marty Bouchard reads “Caps For Sale.”
