Famous Dr. Seuss Character Suprises Hopatcong Students

Hats aren't usually allowed at .

But last month the school made an exception.

"The Cat in the Hat" made a cameo at the elementary school to the surprise of students, who had just finished reading Dr. Seuss' popular book of the same name.

The program began the NJEA's "Read Across America" week in Hopatcong. Third-grade special-education teacher Danielle Kovach, the state's 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year, and Speech-Language Specialist Pat Pietrzak each applied for "The Cat in the Hat" to visit Tulsa Trail in November.

"The children were pleasantly surprised by the visit," Pietrzak said in an e-mail.