On Tuesday evening, Westhampton Elementary School hosted a Literacy Night for students and their families. Our Bright Spot Reading Buddies were invited to participate in the all-school event. When the doors opened at 6:00 p.m., parents and children, pre-schoolers through sixth graders, streamed in armed with books to read aloud to one another.
Many children signed up ahead of time to read to one of the Reading Buddies. Some read to Reading Buddies Zack and Lilo who were set up in corners of the library. Some read to Reading Buddy Lily in the reading room. Other children were in the gym where comfortable areas had been set up on the floor to sit on and listen to sixth graders (the oldest students in the school) and parents read aloud.
left to right: Bright Spot volunteer Susan Miller with Reading Buddy Zack, school librarian Karen Rousseau with Reading Buddy Lily, (Lily’s teammate Cynthia Hinckley taking photo), volunteer Ern Damon with Reading Buddy Lilo
All attendees were offered snacks and juice to enjoy as they sat back and enjoyed the wonderful books being read for the enjoyment of others. The event ended with all gathered in the gym for the reading of everyone’s old time favorite, Good Night Moon. As the children were leaving, they were offered a book of their choice to take home. A love of reading could be felt throughout the school’s library, gymnasium, and reading room.
The event took months of planning by the school’s two reading teachers and school librarian. It was the perfect opportunity for parents to meet the canine Reading Buddies they had heard so much about from their children. Feedback on the Bright Spot Reading Buddies Program was overwhelmingly positive. Bright Spot was honored to be included in this wonderful family event.