Students at East Aiken School of the Arts spent May 13 embracing the importance of reading.
The day kicked off with a parade of floats designed and built by the students traveling through the halls of the school. With circus music adding to the festive atmosphere, students were cheered by parents lining the parade route through the cafeteria.
School Librarian Melanie Starks said, in an age when everyone is going electronic and digital, they want students to understand nothing can replace the joy of good, physical books.
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“They need to practice those concepts of print reading left to right, turning the pages,” she said. “We spend a lot of time online, but there’s also great joy in the books and the illustrations and the physically interacting, turning to show the book to others and reading together and making it a collaborative activity as well. And I think books set us up for that.”
The school encouraged students to pick up a book by including a book swap. Every table and open counter space was covered with donated books for students to take home.
“We recognize that everybody doesn’t have equal access to books in their home, and everybody doesn’t always have access to go find new ones in the summer. And it’s always just fun to have a new book, no matter how many you may already have,” said Starks. “It’s meant to build the joy of reading and make sure we promote and provide access. I think everybody enjoys watching the joy on their children’s faces. And when kids walk out excited with new books and with the fun they’ve had, I think all parents can appreciate that.”
Principal Lisa Fallaw said the day also included guest readers, men from all walks of life, to participate in “Real Men Read.”
“’Real Man Read’ shows our children that men love to read too,” she said. “It’s very important that especially our males have those role models that they can look up to, whether it is someone from our community, such as a law enforcement officer, or someone from our community, who’s an engineer. And even within our school district.” Our children need to see those men reading.”
Fallaw, dressed as a circus ringmaster, led her students through the hallways and past their parents. She said she and her staff have looked forward to this day, something they have not been able to do for two years.
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“The last couple years have been tough. It’s been rough,” she said. “We have not been able to do a lot of the things that we do that make our school unique and special. So, we’re excited for our little ones that they’re getting to experience what school is supposed to be about at the elementary level, and it’s a whole lot of fun.”
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
