This year marked the 17th annual National Read Across America Day which was created by the National Education Association as the annual date as a time for reading motivation and awareness.
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
MANSFIELD — Students at the John Hydock Elementary School climbed all aboard the reading train in celebration of the Read Across America for a Seussical adventure on March 4.
The well-known children’s book writer, Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was celebrated and honored days after what would have been his 110th birthday March 2.
”This is a fun event for everyone, students and staff alike, and it’s a great way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday and promote literacy,” said Kristina Papero, the local Read Across America chairperson.
This year marked the 17th annual National Read Across America Day which was created by the National Education Association as the annual date as a time for reading motivation and awareness.
Principal Joseph Mersinger got the train rolling with an announcement for all the teachers to enter the hallways with their students a little after 9 a.m.
Then students and staff members alike sat down along the walls, forming a “train” and then they read for approximately five minutes, he said.
”This year, I got so caught up in my book Stephen Covey’s ‘The 8th Habit’, I think I let the reading train continue for about ten minutes,” Principal Mersinger said.
Students and staff also wore hats from “Cat in the Hat” during this activity.
The Read Across America committee decorated the school foyer with Dr. Seuss-themed decorations, red-and-white striped hats, as well as a map of the US and post cards that students and staff members created to show the different states in which the students read.
Originally, the school had planned to have guest readers, but since the original Read Across America Day became a snow day, the guest readers were no longer available.
”That would’ve been my favorite part to see community members coming into the school to promote literacy,” Principal Mersinger said, adding that he enjoyed seeing wearing his Cat in the Hat and visiting the classrooms throughout the day.
”Students celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday this year with very interesting geography lesson,” Ms. Papero said.
Students created a post-card that pictured a state in which they had read something.
”A large map was displayed in the foyer that highlighted all of these states to show that our students really have Read Across America,” Ms. Papero said.
Students then participated in a book swap where they were each able to swap one of their old books with a gently used book from another student.
”Parent volunteers, donations from our Mansfield Township Education Association, and the Columbus Home and School Association helped to make this celebration of literacy a memorable one for the students of John Hydock Elementary School,” Ms. Papero said.

