Schools

Merrick Community Comes Together For Reading

Local officials read to kids at Birch Avenue School, and shared stories about their jobs.

Local officials, community leaders and members of the Hofstra University men’s basketball team joined professionals from the Merrick School District on Feb. 3 to read to classes as part of a Community Read Aloud celebration. Held at Birch School, the event was the capstone of the school’s two-week Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program.

Following the school’s PARP theme of “Reading Is Sweet,” student representatives from each class posed with the guest readers for a picture alongside giant paper cupcakes and life-sized lollipops before escorting them to their classroom.

Among those who read to the students in grades K-6 were Assemblyman David McDonough, Legislator Steven Rhoads, Hempstead Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad, members of the Hofstra men’s basketball team, New York City police officer Brian Hoisik, Merrick Board of Education President Dr. Pamela Banks, district administrators and other influential community members.

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After each guest reader finished reading the story, students were able to ask them about their professional careers and how reading had helped them to succeed.

“I would like to thank our principal, Kerri Galante, and assistant principal, Chris Hoisik, as well as the entire Birch School Reading Department and our parent volunteers, for putting together such a wonderful read aloud with our valuable community members,” said Birch School librarian Vanessa Schroeder.

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Photos: Merrick School District

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