Glen Cove Students Commit to 40,000 Minutes of Reading

Landing School concluded its Pick a Reading Partner program on Jan. 27, with a relay race-type event, cherry pie filling, silly string, pancake syrup and multicolored feathers.

The assembly began with PARP coordinators and teachers Maria DePace and Stefanie Liptzin distributing books — donated by the PTA — to students who won contests for reading and other challenges related to the celebration.

During the school’s two weeks of PARP, children were tasked with reading more than 40,000 minutes. Principal Benjamin Roberts was very excited to announce that they met and exceeded the school’s goal, reading a total of 40,281 minutes.

For exceeding their goal, the students were rewarded with a special assembly. Students Jeremiah Ede, Mark LaRocca and Emely Aguilar Martinez were randomly selected to go head-to-head with Principal Roberts and the PARP coordinators in a relay race-type activity. The losing team had to pick a mystery box, which contained a prank they had to endure. Liptzin was sprayed with silly string, DePace took two tins filled with cherry pie filling to the face and Roberts was covered in pancake syrup and feathers.

Students took part in a variety of activities during the PARP program including visiting Deasy School to read to others. They also took part in several spirit-themed days, such as Character Dress Up Day, Crazy Sock Day and Jersey Day.

Story by Syntax, Photos courtesy of Glen Cove City School District:

1. Landing School Principal Benjamin Roberts was doused in pancake syrup and covered in feathers during the PARP assembly.
2. Emely Aguilar Martinez was all smiles as she readied to hit PARP coordinator Maria DePace with a ton of cherry pie filling.
3. Landing students silly stringed PARP coordinator Stefanie Liptzin.
4. Landing students Jeremiah Ede, Mark LaRocca and Emely Aguilar Martinez were randomly selected to go head to head in a competition against Principal Roberts and the school’s PARP coordinators.