Montville Township Public Schools celebrate Dr. Seuss' 112th while building excitement for reading

Theodor Seuss Geisel, best known as Dr. Seuss, turned 112 on March 2, 2016.

Since the innovative author’s death in 1991, Seuss’ birthday has become known as Read Across America. The five elementary schools in the Montville Township Public Schools district began celebrating Seuss and other authors almost two weeks ago. Montville Township Public Schools are situated throughout Montville, Pine Brook and Towaco, New Jersey.

At Hilldale Elementary School, in Pine Brook, 363 students participated in many activities. The school launched their annual Read Across America programs on February 22, and continued through March 4. Grades Kindergarten to five participated in a variety of reading activities. Simple games like, guess-the-goldfish, in honor of the Dr. Seuss classic, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and more in-depth studies, such as using Google Apps for Education to explore Read Across America initiatives, were employed in observance of the author’s birthday. The innovative approaches created enthusiasm among the students and faculty.

“What would Dr. Seuss say if he could see what Hilldale’s students are doing with Google Apps?” asked Hilldale’s Media Specialist, Jason Jones. “He’d probably say something like, ‘If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good!’”

At Montville’s William Mason Elementary School in the Township’s Lake Valhalla area, Creature Comfort Pet Therapy put on a show to celebrate reading for the school’s 271 students. The exciting assembly encouraged students to read to pets and others.

On March 2 The Cat in the Hat greeted students as they arrived at William Mason. Next, older siblings read to the classes of younger siblings. Later in the day a fifteen-minute D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) event led to all students lining the halls and reading at the same time.

According to the William Mason Media Specialist, Wand Vogel, “With the help of class mothers, students enjoyed Dr. Seuss themed snacks, such as Cat in the Hat banana and strawberry slices on a skewer, and Truffula Tree cupcakes”

Throughout the day, each class was scheduled for time in the library to create Gertrude McFuzz as a bookmark.

In Towaco, the Cedar Hill Elementary School’s third grade chorus performed a “Seussical,” review for the community’s 335 member student population. The school, which trains Seeing Eye dogs, invited Dr. Seuss readers from Robert R. Lazar Middle School into the classrooms. Jasper, the school’s 16th Seeing Eye trainee, joined in on the reading fun.

Superintendent Dr. Rene’ Rovtar read to Montville’s Valley View Elementary School, where the 414 students enthusiastically welcomed her. At the beginning of the week, she also launched the week-long Read Across America celebration for 264 students at Woodmont Elementary School in Pine Brook.

“This is our third year of inviting people to read to our students all day,” said Woodmont Reading Specialist Jenna Lipton. “It has been our most popular year so far. Even those we invited who could not attend on Dr. Seuss’ actual birthday, still came to Woodmont to read for our students throughout the week.”

Annually Woodmont invites dignitaries from throughout Morris County to read on March 2. The readers come in shifts throughout the entire school day; beginning at 9:00 AM and ending at 2:15 PM. While there, the guests not only read to students, but they discussed how reading impacts their careers. Police officers, fire fighters, doctors, parents, Montville Township Public Schools Board Members and administrators, the Morris County Sherriff, elected officials like New Jersey State Senator Joseph Pennacchio, Assemblyman Jay Webber, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Mayor Jim Sandham, Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen and many others read at Woodmont on March 2 and throughout the week.

“This year over thirty readers accepted,” explained Lipton.

“I came last year and the year before,” said Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce. “This year my schedule in Trenton conflicted, so I am here a day earlier than the event.”

The District 26 elected official read the Dr. Seuss story, “I Can Read with my Eyes Shut!” for three Woodmont Kindergarten Classes on March 1.

“As an Assembly person I read all the time.” DeCroce told students. She explained about how bills are written and become laws. “When I read a bill I have all of you in mind.”

Other Woodmont readers included: Board of Education President Dr. Matthew Kayne; Board members Dr. Karen Cortellino, Michael Johnson, Dr. David Modrak and Michael O’Brien; fireman Michael Soehnlein; Sheriff Edward Rochford, Undersheriff Michael Puzio; Montville Police Officer Scott McGowan; Assistant Superintendents Dr. Casey Shorter and Andrea Woodring; District Supervisors Edward Fleischman, Elise Miller and Dr. Sandra Schwartz; and many other community volunteers and public servants.

At all five elementary schools additional Read Across America activities were scheduled through March 4 to highlight the excitement of reading. Pajama days, D.E.A.R. time, guest readers in individual classrooms, costumed visitors and assemblies were among the hallmark activities scheduled to promote the joy of reading.

While in the district, Pennacchio also took time to tour the newly renovated Montville Township High School Media Center.

Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen concluded Woodmont’s Read Across America celebration on Friday, March 4 by reading and donating the book House Mouse, Senate Mouse, by Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes, to the Woodmont library.

CAPTIONS

1. (Photo by Wanda Vogel) In celebration of Read Across America, Media Specialist Wanda Vogel, dressed as The Cat in the Hat, with Kindergarten student Mia Puleo. The Cat in the Hat greeted students on March 2, 2016 as they arrived at William Mason Elementary School. Read Across America is held on March 2 in observance of the birthday of Dr. Seuss. In Montville Township Public Schools, the district’s five elementary schools began celebrating on February 22 with a variety of programs and activities designed to inspire enthusiasm for reading.

2. (Photo by Valley View) Principal Dr. Patricia Kennedy, Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year and Valley View Media Specialist, Elizabeth Jemas, and Superintendent Dr. Rene’ Rovtar read with students dressed as the Cat in the Hat at the Valley View Read Across America Day celebration at Valley View Elementary School in Montville, NJ.

3. (Photo by Sue Marinello) Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce has celebrated Read Across America for three years at Woodmont Elementary School in Pine Brook, NJ. The elected official was needed in Trenton on March 2, so she attended a day early to read to Woodmont’s three Kindergarten classes. While there she also talked with students about how bills become laws and the important role reading plays in doing her job as an Assemblywoman.

4. (Photo by Samia Mahmood) Undersheriff Michael Puzio, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Susan Hunter and Sheriff Edward V. Rochford with Woodmont Principal Dominic Esposito at Woodmont Elementary School’s 3rd Annual Read Across America celebration on March 2, 2016. The Sheriff and Officer were among three dozen guest readers who spoke about reading and read books in classrooms to observe Dr. Seuss’ 112th birthday.