21 November, 2011
They came from different places, and with different backgrounds, but with the same purpose; to read.
Friday, November 18th was Community Reading Day at Elmwood School, a long standing tradition that invites community leaders and state officials into the classroom to read a specially selected story to third grade students.
This year there were 24 readers. After introductions in the Elmwood library, the readers were escorted to classrooms by student guides.
The two books selected for this year's event were "14 Cows for America", by Carmen Agra Deedy, and "Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully" by Audrey Penn.
While they were often reading the same book, each reader brought a different perspective to their telling of the story. School Commitee member Nancy Burdick read with great expression. Hopkins School Principal Greg Martineau taught and read. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Tim Kilduff, made reading a group experience, and Town Manager Norman Khumalo shared his African heritage.
Other readers for the day included State Representative Carolyn Dykema, Hopkinton firefighter Bob Santucci and Colella's Supermarket owner, Dale Danahy. Although they discussed the books, students also had other questions for their readers. One student wanted to know if Danahy was supposed to be at work, and another calculated Khumalo's present age based on the number of years he had lived in Africa.
But in the end, it was all about learning, with benefits for both readers and students.
To see highlights from Community Reading Day at Elmwood School and the full HCAM News report, watch the video below.
Complete list of Community Readers:
- Scott Aghababian, School Committee
- Nancy Burdick, School Committee
- Ken Clark, Fire Chief
- Di Collins, President, Hopkinton Education Foundation
- Dale Danahy, Colella's Supermarket
- Mary Rose DeGroot, Town of Hopkinton
- Kathy Dooley, Hopkinton Public Schools
- Ralph Dumas, Hopkinton Public Schools
- Rep. Carolyn Dykema
- Ashoke Ghosh, Assistant Principal, Hopkinton High School
- MaryEllen Grady,Assistant Principal, Hopkinton Middle School
- Mary Jane Hackett
- Geri Holland, Town of Hopkinton
- Marion Intinarelli, Middlesex Savings Bank
- Chris Kennedy, Center School Principal
- Tim Kilduff, Chamber of Commerce
- Norman Khumalo, Town Manager
- Cherylann Lambert-Walsh, Project Just Because
- Superintendent Jonathan Landman
- Greg Martineau, Hopkins School Principal
- Troy Mick, School Committee
- Cheryl Perreault
- Abbie Rosenberg
- Bob Santucci, Hopkinton Firefighter
- Fred Tressler
To see photos from Elmwood's Community Reading Day 2011, Click Here.
