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Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. is pleased to announce that as part of his 2011 Summer Reading Challenge Program, books will be distributed to children in Kindergarten through 6th grade at book blow out events in both districts on Saturday, August 27. The governor is once again challenging the territory’s students to spend time reading over their summer vacation in a contest that encourages reading as entertainment and for personal enrichment.
“As we approach the Back to School season, I am delighted at the opportunity to invite the territory’s young students to join me in celebrating reading and learning. Our hope is to continue to inspire children to read more and to further promote reading as instrumental in developing one’s education and future success,” Governor
de Jongh said.
The governor also reminds students that the Reading Challenge runs through September. Students who may not have signed up to participate as of yet are encouraged to stop by the book blow out events this weekend to get started.
On St. Thomas, books will be distributed at the Tutu Park Mall’s Back to School Teen Idol event from 12:00-4:00 PM. On St. Croix, books will be distributed in front of Kmart in Sunny Isles from 9:00 AM-2:00 PM and at Plaza Extra Supermarket in Mt. Pleasant, Frederiksted from 9:00 AM– 2:00 PM.
This month’s events were organized for students who have not yet picked up this summer’s featured books, including The Big Roar by Phillis Gershator and Mim Green for students in Kindergarten through second grade, Hoping for a Hurricane by Phillis Gershator for students in third and fourth grade and Moko Jumbie Dreams by Alscess Lewis-Brown for students in fifth and sixth grade. All three books were written by local authors.
As an incentive to participate in the program, students who keep track of their reading and finish a minimum of five books this summer will be invited to a “Fun Day” with the governor; the event will recognize student achievement with awards and prizes.
Students who are already participating in the Summer Reading Challenge Program are encouraged to drop off completed tracking sheets at the book blow out events on Saturday.
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 reading at www.virginislandspubliclibraries.org.
Participating students may also write to the governor to report their progress, or post their comments, which the governor is monitoring, 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.
For further information, contact Sekoia Rogers at 774-0001 or Angeli Ferdschneider at 773-1404.
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