Last week, a combined total of about 275 families, reading teachers, and administrators joined together at Bonny Eagle Middle School for Family Reading Night, which is designed to encourage ongoing literacy development.

The evening began with a welcome by Assistant Superintendent Carol Weeks, who greeted families and spoke to the importance of reading. She then introduced Cathy Walz and Alycia Campbell who represented the new Read to Succeed Family program that is in the process of being implemented for the next school year. Families were given brochures to read more about this exciting opportunity for families in SAD 6.

Title I Coordinator Gail Cressey then introduced the reading teachers of SAD 6. Cressey has been orchestrating math meets, family math nights and reading nights for many years.

After introductions, Literacy Implementer Sarah Moore led families through a range of activities designed to be adapted to play at home with a few players or in a large group, as was the case during reading night. Families were then walked through a take-home folder containing additional activity ideas and information on enriching literacy at home.

The evening closed with Sarah reading “Giraffe’s Can’t Dance,” by Giles Andreae. This is the story of Gerald, a giraffe who couldn’t dance until he found “the music that he loved.” Children were offered cupcakes and juice and sent home with books, journals, pencils and bookmarks to continue with their reading successes.