Robbinsdale Area Schools celebrates Read Across America

Students and adults in schools throughout Robbinsdale Area Schools took time out of their days Monday, March 2, to celebrate Read Across America.

Six CenterPoint Energy retiree volunteers read to students at Noble and Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion elementary schools. Since 2012, the company has donated $3,500 for the purchase of library books. Noble and RSIS each received $500 this year. In addition to the grant, each school receives a Dr. Seuss book which is read to a group of students at the school by the VIP volunteer on event day. Students also received special hats to wear resembling the one worn by “The Cat in the Hat.”

“Since 2009, CenterPoint Energy has been a valued partner with VIP and our district,” said Volunteers In Partnership Coordinator Jill Kaufman. “They are committed to enriching the community we live in through engaging volunteers in our schools as tutors and special event helpers. In addition to promoting literacy through grants to purchase library books, CenterPoint Energy also provides matching funds to VIP for the volunteers’ service hours which allows for additional financial resources to support our program.”

At Robbinsdale Middle School, adults and students alike took 20 minutes out of their days from 8:30-8:50 a.m. to read as part of the third-annual Robbinsdale Middle School Read Across America Day.

Read Across America was created by the National Education Association in 1998 as a way to motivate students and teens to read more. March 2 is the birthday of Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.