Across the nation and throughout the Fontana Unified School District, programs are planned this week as part of National Education Association’s Read Across America.  This annual motivation and awareness program calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.  At South Tamarind Elementary School, the celebration kicked-off on Monday with a special visit from the Mayor of Fontana, Mark Nuaimi, who donned the iconic red and white striped hat to read “Duck for President” to groups of students.

South Tamarind’s festivities culminated on Tuesday with an afterschool birthday bash in honor of the good doctor.  Students were joined by their parents and younger siblings for fun-filled activities, such as putting together floor puzzles, playing rhyming bingo, going on a school-wide scavenger hunt, making Cat in the Hat-style hats, and even playing with a plate full of Oobleck (a sticky green goo just like in the Dr. Seuss book “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins” – yuck!).  Families could also kick-back and enjoy a special matinee showing of “The Lorax.”

Guest readers from the Fontana Police and Fire Departments donned the ubiquitous hats with their uniforms and read Dr. Seuss classics to students in small groups.  The reigning Ms. California Route 66, Rose Russo, who is a South Tamarind teacher by day, was a surprise guest reader.  There was also a visit by the one and only Cat in the Hat (aka teacher Christina Reyes).

Dr. Seuss’s Birthday is a great platform to get students excited about reading.  Motivating children to read is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers.  Research has shown that children who are motivated and spend more time reading do better in school.  “Remember, you’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child!”

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