Classrooms at Peterson Elementary School were filled with guest readers Friday as Huntington Beach city leaders, public safety personnel and community members took part in Read Across America.
The school hosted its ninth annual celebration, bringing approximately 60 visitors to campus for the literacy event, according to a story by reporter Matt Szabo published in the Los Angeles Times’ Daily Pilot.
Read Across America is a national initiative organized by the National Education Association to promote reading and encourage a lifelong appreciation for books. National Read Across America Week is observed from March 2 to March 6, with the official day coinciding with the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
Among those who participated were Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon, Mayor Pro Tem Butch Twining, members of the Huntington Beach Fire Department, and Huntington Beach City School District Superintendent Dr. Leisa Winston.
According to the Daily Pilot, Peterson student ambassadors escorted participants to classrooms for three 15-minute rotations. Principal Kevin Smith-Johnson told the reporter the goal of the event is to build excitement around literacy and foster a love of reading among students.
Winston also emphasized the importance of modeling reading for young learners.
“It’s really important to our kids to see our adults modeling good reading behaviors,” Winston told the Daily Pilot. “We’re really showing them that the lifelong love of reading starts at the elementary level with students.”
Szabo also reported that Peterson students have collectively read more than 40 million words so far this school year.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- The Orange County Department of Education will host a free public forum on April 14 at its Costa Mesa Conference Center, where Seal Beach Police Capt. Nick Nicholas will present practical guidance on active shooter preparedness, prevention and response strategies for schools and communities.
- Nearly 280 high school students from 43 Orange County schools attended the 44th annual Law Day Conference at Chapman University, where judges and attorneys led workshops on legal issues ranging from social media and free speech to renters’ rights and search laws.
- More than 1,200 students, families, educators and industry partners attended the 12th annual OC Pathways Showcase at the OC Fairgrounds, where 58 career pathways and student-led projects highlighted regional collaboration among schools, colleges and workforce partners.
- El Rancho Charter School eighth-grader Sydney Tran won her second consecutive Orange County Spelling Bee title by correctly spelling “charcuterie” in the final round and will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.
- Cypress School District Superintendent Anne Silavs announced she will retire July 1 after 11 years leading the district and a 35-year career in public education.
- OCDE will host a countywide career fair from 3 to 7 p.m. March 31, connecting job seekers with school districts hiring for certificated, classified, substitute, management and leadership positions.
- In a recent episode of the FutureCurrent podcast, OCDE Associate Superintendent Dr. Sandra Lee discussed the importance of early literacy, the use of screening tools to identify student needs and practical strategies families can use to support reading at home.
- Academic competition teams from OCDE’s Connections programs at University High School and Venado Middle School advanced to national tournaments after earning qualifying finishes at their respective Western Regional events.
- In response to recent high-profile tragedies, experts advise adults to help children cope by providing age-appropriate information, limiting media exposure, maintaining open communication and seeking additional support when needed.
- Dana Hills High School art students participated in a whale watching excursion during Dana Point’s Festival of Whales to gather inspiration for ocean-themed artwork that will be displayed and used to raise funds at the festival’s Art Walk.
- The Brea Olinda Unified School District board will vote March 5 on whether to declare Trustee Chris Becerra’s seat vacant after he missed four consecutive meetings following his December arrest, as prosecutors continue reviewing the case and no charges have been filed.
- In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked enforcement of a 2024 California law prohibiting schools from automatically notifying parents when a student changes pronouns or gender expression, allowing such notifications to proceed while a legal challenge continues.
- According to the Los Angeles Times, federal authorities began investigating Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho after a referral from New York prosecutors examining fraud allegations involving the AI company AllHere, leading to FBI searches of his home and office as the inquiry continues.
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