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(MARCH 2023)—A focus on the fundamentals of reading is a priority for students in all grade levels in Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen. At Wheeler Avenue Elementary School, hosting its annual PARP program is part of this commitment. The annual event, which engages students of all grade levels, is designed to encourage students to improve their reading skills through participation in fun and creative activities.
“Reading is a critical skill and we wanted to create an event that not only increased our students’ excitement to read but also encouraged them to push towards meeting their individual reading goals,” said Dr. Ruth Peets-Butcher, Principal of Wheeler Avenue Elementary School. “Creating fun events, like our PARP program, enhances the learning experience and helps power our students’ love of reading.”
One of the more exciting activities of the PARP program was the partnering of older students with younger counterparts as reading buddies, allowing younger students to learn and benefit from the more senior students’ experiences. To further increase students’ excitement to read, scholastic bucks were given to the top three readers in each grade level who read for the greatest number of minutes. These scholastic bucks were provided by the PTA, and winners were announced at a PTA meeting.