School Number 10 passes the "Hat"

"I do like reading...Sam I am." That was the overwhelming message in Belleville School 10 on March 2, when the school celebrated Theodor "Seuss" Geisel's birthday by having a wide variety of teachers and parents all read as part of Read Across America.

School Number 10 had a full slate of visitors, including the one and only Cat In The Hat, according to Principal Susan Rovell. Former teachers Genevieve Petrillo, Anna annicelli, Diane Galante, and Fran Galloway were among the special guests that stopped by to read to students. 

All tolled, there were more than 50 parents, former students, grandparents, community leaders and friends that stopped by to read their favorite stories to the students.

School Number 10 even transformed its halls into their version of "Seussville" with each classroom door decorated by the students in the Dr. Seuss theme, with beautiful artist renderings created by art teacher Mrs. Modrzewski. Also getting into the spirit was Buddy, the school mascot, by donning the familiar top hat from the now famous "Cat in the Hat" story.

Rovell said she went "all out to create a positive, fun environment to emphasize the importance of reading."

Rovell said it all began in 1938 when Geisel finally had his first work published, "And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street!" He had been rejected approximately 29 times, she said.  

The rest is history, she said and students have been enjoying his approximately 50 books ever since.