Glen Cove Elementary Schools Celebrate 35th Annual "Reading Olympics" PARP Program

The Glen Cove City School District recently concluded its 35th annual Pick-A-Reading-Partner (PARP) program at Deasy, Gribbin, Landing, and Connolly elementary schools. This year’s theme, "The Reading Olympics," encouraged students across the district to engage in literacy-based activities, meet professional authors, and reach ambitious reading goals.

District ELA Coordinator Kristen Schaefer and the PARP committee collaborated to bring this year’s literacy activities to life across all four buildings. "The 'Reading Olympics' theme showed our students that reading is a shared adventure beyond the classroom," Schaefer said. "It was wonderful to see the community and PTA rally together to make this year so engaging." While PARP week concluded last Friday, the Read-a-thon runs through this Friday, March 13. Students are still logging their minutes, with the final total to be calculated once the competition closes.

The PTAs hosted several authors to share their work and creative processes with students. Nina Ross presented her Montauk Mike book series at Deasy and Gribbin Schools, sharing the coastal adventures of a friendly shark to inspire local interest in reading and the environment. Featured author Brian Heinz, known for his evocative storytelling and nature-themed books, spoke to students at Connolly School about the craft of research and writing. He was incredibly animated as he shared stories of his global travels to gather information for his books. His lively presentation kept the kids laughing and fully engaged throughout.

Landing School welcomed local community member, police officer, and former Navy SEAL Derek Valance. Valance shared his debut children’s book, Through the Eyes of a Bear, which follows a bear on an adventure that teaches young readers about curiosity, courage, and the natural world.

Reading brings us all together! Thank you to the community members and our school administrators who shared their favorite stories with our students. We were honored to host current and retired administrators, alongside Mayor Panzenbeck, Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton, Assemblyman Lavine, and President of the Glen Cove Education Foundation Danielle Fugazy Scagliola. From our local parents and librarians to our firefighters, police officers, and even a pilot, the kids loved every minute! This district-wide effort across all four elementary schools highlights the power of literacy as a shared community value.

The PARP program is a long-standing tradition in Glen Cove that emphasizes family engagement in literacy. The program asks families to spend 20 minutes each night reading together. By partnering educators, the PTA, and families, Glen Cove continues to foster a culture where reading is a shared and enjoyable experience for every student.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Readers at Deasy School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Readers at Landing School

Community Readers at Gribbin School