By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
Grant Bowler Elementary School celebrated its dedicated readers last week with a pizza party for the top 30 readers in each grade. As part of the Accelerated Reading program, students throughout the school year were encouraged to read books and take a test on each to receive points towards various prizes and ultimately, the pizza party.
Librarian Bryce Hardy said that previously those who have earned the points necessary to participate have had a swimming party or have gone to see a play at the Smith Center. But this year, due to a scheduling conflict, a pizza party and games in the library was the reward.
Aside from the party, those who earned points also earned tickets to enter into a drawing for the chance to win various prizes including books and games. Students who earned a significant amount of points were also admitted into point number “clubs” and their names were announced over the school intercom. Clubs ranged from 25, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250 points and more.
The students’ names were also added to a list for each club in the hall and those who received the highest points would have their names placed on an Accelerated Reading Plaque.
When he addressed the fourth grade group prior to their pizza party on Thursday, May 14 Hardy told them that they were not only the top readers in their grade but that the fourth grade was the top reading grade in the school.
“I hope I can see this same group next year in fifth grade,” he said.
Fourth grader Lucy Leavitt was among those attending the pizza party. She said that she read “like 100” books to earn enough points to attend the party. Her favorite book was “Summer of the Monkeys,” she said.
Top readers for each grade included first grader Sydney Dorsey with 248.8 points, second grader Austin Van Dyke with 288 points, third grader Hans Whipple with 521.7 points, fourth grader Cassandra Nelson with 427.8 points and fifth grader Sam Wheeler with 707.6 points.
