TODAY: 19 UTAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CELEBRATE DR. SEUSS’ BIRTHDAY
SALT LAKE CITY — Wednesday, March 2, thousands of Utah elementary students will be heard rhyming in unison as they participate in Dr. Seuss Day, part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative.
United Way of Salt Lake is partnering with 19 schools in Salt Lake and Davis counties that are hosting Dr. Seuss fun reading events. Approximately 325 voluteers including 18 companies, a Salt Lake Community College class, and several community members will go into these schools to read Dr. Seuss books in classrooms, play literacy games with students – ALL in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday!
9-10a.m. – South Kearns Elementary: 50 volunteers from Instructure will read to Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students from Dr. Seuss books. Each student will receive a brand new Dr. Seuss book. After reading to students, volunteers will pass out these books.
9-11a.m. – James E. Moss Elementary: students will be dressing up as Dr. Seuss characters, classrooms will be decorating their doors, and volunteers from American Express will be reading books to the students. The volunteers will also hand out books to students who win the costume contest raffle.
10-11:30a.m. – Granger Elementary: 50 volunteers from CHG will read to Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students from new Dr. Seuss books. Students will also assemble Dr. Seuss hats, which they will wear for the rest of the day.
The national event, now in its 18th year, is designed to encourage students to find the fun in reading. This message is especially important to these elementary schools involved – many are Title 1 schools, where 70-90 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch. Nearly all these students face economic or language barriers, creating additional academic challenges for them to overcome.
Participating elementary schools are United Way of Salt Lake Community Schools and part of collaborative partnerships with the Granite Education Foundation and Granite School District and dozens of nonprofit organizations. Community Schools serve as a resource for students, families, and the broader community. These schools create a web of support focused on improving academic outcomes for low-income students. Partners align academic programs and other resources such as financial stability, health and basic needs programs at the school.
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