Rainbow of readers Celebrate Read Across America at Charleroi stadium

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com

Charleroi Area Elementary Center took to the football field Wednesday to show just how colorful they are.
As part of Read Across America activities each year, sponsored by Librarian Becky Spiker, students dressed in their assigned colors and gathered on the football field at Cougar Stadium on a sunny afternoon to show how bright they can shine in what has been a dark year for many due to the pandemic.
Monday marked the start of National Reading Month — with celebrations across the nation planned for Read Across America Day Tuesday.
Sponsored by the National Education Association and Reading is Fundamental, Read Across America, the celebrations typically fall in line to pay tribute to the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
Each year, millions of students and teachers take part in Read Across America, and the pandemic has not stopped students, and their educators, from being a little silly as a reminder of the importance of picking up your favorite book.
With some of Suess’ books being shelved for controversial images this week, the debate on themes with the Seuss collection has not stopped area educators and students from showing how important reading is to them.
This week in the Charleroi Area School District, students found a sense of normalcy when they put on silly hats, wore their favorite sports jerseys and educated themselves on new books provided by homeroom teachers that evoke themes of inclusiveness.
To show the community they are as colorful and diverse as a rainbow, students wore red, yellow, blue, orange and green and took to the football field with their classmates.
Their teachers, all dressed in yellow to represent sunshine, stood in the corner of the field for a vibrant drone photo taken by junior Brad McIlvaine, who was the pilot, under the direction of teacher Nick Arico.
“Due to COVID, there has been limited opportunity for students to have hands-on practice with our drones,” Arico said. “Brad has been active with STEM activities since middle school and has plenty of experience flying a drone of his own.
STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
“Using a drone to film on-campus activities provides the students a purpose for mastering the technology and demonstrates the equipment for younger students.”
With a more consistent schedule is making it possible to re-start extracurricular STEM programs and weather warming up, McIlvaine will start to train new students on drone usage this spring.
For Spiker, she was happy to see the youngsters enjoying a carefree day.
“This week is all about being a kid, dressing silly, wearing your hair crazy, being yourself and having fun,” she said. “COVID did not stop us. If anything, it really gave them a sense of normalcy back and something to look forward to during these crazy times.”
Launched in 1998 by the NEA, Read Across America Day was created as a way to encourage children to read. It later developed into a year-round program, with special celebrations in March.

Jenn Codeluppi / Mon Valley Independent
Bradley McIlvaine, a junior at Charleroi Area High School, pilots a drone to take photos Wednesday at the football stadium.