U-46 superintendent announces Summer Reading Challenge winners

Submitted by U-46

Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent José M. Torres recently announced the winners of his Summer Reading Challenge during the Elgin International Festival on Aug. 31.

Highland Elementary School won for largest percentage of students who completed the summer reading program — 164 total.

Century Oaks Elementary School won for having the largest increase in Summer Reading Program finishers from last year — 60 finishers in 2012 and 112 finishers this year.

Torres presented the winning principals with a trophy and each school will receive a special performance from the Jesse White Tumblers.

“The Summer Reading Challenge is such an important program to help our students strengthen their reading skills over the summer, sharpen their imaginations, improve their critical thinking skills, and fall in love with reading,” Torres said.

“Our library partners do a fantastic job getting students engaged with fun themes like music, traveling, and prehistoric creatures. I’m so proud of the students at Highland and Century Oaks for taking the challenge seriously and using their summer vacations to read.”

This year, 2,433 U-46 students from 51 U-46 schools completed the Summer Reading Programs at their libraries. Last year, 2,104 students from 47 U-46 schools completed the program.

U-46 students read on the Wild Side and marveled at the size of the 40-foot Super Croc on display at Gail Borden Public Library. They went on exciting journeys to faraway lands with Bartlett Public Library’s “Have Book — Will Travel” Summer Reading Program.

And they got groovy with Poplar Creek Public Library’s musical themed Summer Reading Program.

“Congratulations to Highland Principal Steve Johnson as this marks the second year that his students won the challenge and to Century Oaks Principal Jessica McCormick’s students for showing such great improvement,” Torres said.

“Through the power of reading, they were transported to exotic locations and exposed to new adventures and cultures — but most importantly, they exercised their imagination through reading.”