Elementary students at the John F. Kennedy School in Great Neck celebrated the building’s annual Reading Week with this year’s theme, “Books Arrrrrr Treasures.” The week included a variety of pirate-themed activities and special guests to promote reading.
Students kicked off the week by creating their own pirate hats and completing a scavenger hunt to find a hidden treasure – a book, of course! Every teacher received a copy of the book “Teach Like a Pirate,” which was delivered to classrooms by Principal Ron Gimondo, Assistant Principal Michelle Bell, and literacy coordinator Erin Wilder, who all dressed in the pirate theme.
Reading Week also featured visits from guest readers and acclaimed children’s authors. “Mystery pirate readers,” including parents, teachers, and district administrators, visited classes to read the book that students discovered on their scavenger hunt. Students in kindergarten through second grade were treated to an assembly with Alyssa Satin Capucilli, the award-winning creator and author of the Katy Duck series and the bestselling Biscuit series, while students in third through fifth grade met with renowned author and illustrator Chris Soentpiet.
Reading Week is an annual activity at Kennedy School to support literacy initiatives and develop the students’ love of reading. The event is coordinated by Andrea Gerstenblatt, library media specialist.
