Students at Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven listen intently as they try to guess the identity of a “mystery reader” during the school’s birthday celebration for Dr. Seuss.
Press release from Fair Haven School District
Even a cranky “Grinch” would have been smiling at the Fair Haven School District’s birthday celebration for beloved author Theodor Seuss Geisel — the writer and cartoonist (1904-1991) best known under his pen name, Dr. Seuss.
The extravaganza at Sickles School kicked off on March 2 – Suess’s birthday and “Read Across America” day — with a “Birthday Celebration” assembly. Kindergarten-through-third grade students, attired in red and white in honor of the Seuss character “The Cat in the Hat,” listened as faculty members, onstage but hidden by the curtain, acted as “mystery readers.” When challenged to guess the teachers’ identities, the students succeeded “one hundred percent.” The entire assembly then took part in a spirited rendition of “Happy Birthday to You.”
The fun continued as Guest Readers from the community visited classrooms to share Dr. Seuss books. Guest Reader Kevin Davis, Principal of the fourth-through-eighth grade Knollwood School, read a few of his favorites to third graders. Another celebratory event at Sickles was the creation of a “Books Will Build You Up” music video (which can be viewed here), featuring students and staff celebrating the joys of reading.
Guest Readers from the community also traveled to Knollwood School. Students in fourth and fifth grade enjoyed Dr. Seuss books read aloud by “local celebrities” that included Fair Haven Parks and Recreation Director D.J. Breckenridge and Fair Haven Police Officer Eric Patton. Additionally, the Knollwood World Language teachers read Dr. Seuss books aloud to students in Spanish and French.
“Our students were buzzing with excitement as they participated in our different themes for each day, and they leapt out of their cars on ‘Books Alive’ day to admire one another’s costumes and connect the characters to literacy,” said Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy. “Teachers collaborated with parents and with one another to create center-based learning environments for ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go,’ giving students the opportunity to express their understanding through games, crafts, dancing, singing, and of course reading.”
“I am so grateful to our school’s literacy team – Colleen Doogan, Kerry Leahey, and June Sustick – for initiating this project, and also for the enthusiastic response from students, staff, and families.”
