Governor de Jongh is once again challenging the territory’s students to spend time reading over their summer vacation during the third Summer Reading Challenge, a contest that encourages children to read and develops literacy among young Virgin Islanders. In addition to encouraging reading for entertainment, personal enrichment and overall learning, the summer challenge helps students build their own personal libraries by distributing books for free.

The Reading Challenge was launched on the public television’s “Face to Face” program last night. The 2011 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge is open to all the territory’s public, private and parochial school students between Kindergarten and 6th grade. “We’ve had great success encouraging Virgin Islands children to discover a love of reading through the Summer Reading Challenge, and we are looking forward to getting even more young students involved with this year’s program,” the governor said.

As an incentive to participate in the initiative, students who keep track of their reading and finish a minimum of five books will be invited to a “Fun Day” with the governor at the end of the summer. Special events are planned in both districts and will recognize student achievement. 

The governor encourages students to visit any of the territory’s public libraries to select books for this year’s Reading Challenge; e-books are also available for free downloading at www.virginislandspubliclibraries.org. In addition, the governor will himself distribute books at “Book Blowout” events in both districts on Saturday, June 18th at the Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas and at the Sunny Isle Mall on St. Croix from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Participating students are encouraged to write to the governor throughout the summer to report their progress, or post their comments, which the governor will monitor, at www.readfive.org.

The governor’s Summer Reading Challenge is a partnership of the Office of the Governor, the Department of Education, the Virgin Islands Public Libraries, and Learn-It Systems Corporation. Thanks and appreciation is also extended to this year’s key sponsors: TV 2, Da Vybe, Malvern V. Gumbs of Spectrum Band and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.