Every year, on March 2nd, a birthday party takes place in a BIG way at Lomond View Elementary in Pleasant View. It’s a festive celebration for, none other than, Dr. Seuss! Once inside the school, you might be greeted by The Cat in the Hat and his friends, Thing 1 and Thing 2. After lunch, they’ll be busy handing out out ice cream sandwiches to every student. Also, all the faculty donned their yellow star “Sneetches” t- shirts with words that colorfully describe who they are such as: gardener, listener, storyteller, and happy.
Virginia Miller, librarian at Lomond View, has delightfully stepped into the task of bringing this much anticipated event to life. Miller tells us that, “There was a teacher at Country View Elementary who ran the Dr. Seuss Day at her school and it was so intriguing to me that I just felt like I wanted to do it at my school, too.” So, for the past 8 years, Miller has done just that.
Every year, on Dr. Seuss’s Birthday, Lomond View has an assembly, where “Student Storytellers” are given the opportunity to perform in front of the whole school. They act out stories depicted from the characters Dr. Seuss wrote. These specific children are chosen, in the fall, from a separate production called “Battle of the Storytellers” wherein they are chosen winners. This year, Miller decided to write a skit in which all the student storytellers dressed up and performed.
In the school assembly, music teacher, Daniel White, taught the students a song, “Dr. Seuss We Love You” which they sing every year. Suzie Tayrien, PE teacher, organized a flash mob all about the Green Eggs and Ham story. With a smile, Miller says, “All the students were dancing and it was just so much fun! This starts the day out so when the kids enter back into their classes they can do read-a-thons or other activities.”
A cake contest is open to all students 3rd through 6th grade which includes two categories: A Cake category and “Other” or Crafty. The “Other” category can include things such as Legos, toothpicks or paper designs to represent something involving Dr. Seuss. This contest allows students to put on their thinking caps and use their imagination. For example, a rice crispy cake was cleverly made to look like “The Lorax” while another display was full of bright, red cupcakes representing “10 Apples up on Top.” The winners are divided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category with one grand prize winner overall. This year, there were 35 students who entered the contest. “Everyone is a winner and all get a prize,” announces Miller.
For a whole month before this date, Miller provides activities in the library building up to the excitement for the party. Around the school there are bulletin boards and colored projects, which the students have done in the library, to emphasize Dr. Seuss’s books.
According to Miller, “Read Across America” wanted to choose a day (to initiate reading) so they chose Dr. Seuss’s birthday because of all the wonderful things he did.”
Everyone in the school gets involved on this special day of March 2nd, including families. There is also a pot-luck lunch prepared for all the faculty, decorated with balloons and paraphernalia, related to the Dr. Seuss theme. Every year there is something new that may be added or changed to the celebration.
More than just a librarian, Virginia Miller, has an aptitude for being artistic and creative beyond measure. It is evident, she is also well loved by the children and staff at Lomond View. She truly loves her job. So, next time you find yourself reading a good book go ahead and pull up a side of Green Eggs and Ham to go with it!
