On Sept. 19, a record number of 478 parents, students, staff and community volunteers attended the second fun-filled Read Aloud Program session at Keonepoko Elementary School in Pahoa.
On Sept. 19, a record number of 478 parents, students, staff and community volunteers attended the second fun-filled Read Aloud Program session at Keonepoko Elementary School in Pahoa.
Jed Gaines, president and founder of Read Aloud America, presented this magical evening brimming with the excitement of reading and being read to. He got the evening off to a great start as he popped off trivia questions and tossed and array of footballs, beach balls and Frisbees to eagerly waiting hands.
This set the stage for even more fun, as the keiki were read aloud stories in grade level classrooms by volunteer readers from the community. Parents, guardians and older students, remained in the cafeteria with Jed to enjoy jokes, reading tips, and learning about TTTT (Turn off Technology Through Thursday).
And once again they experienced the joy of being read to as Gaines role-modeled reading aloud.
Families later reunited to enjoy a Domino’s pizza dinner and a book and prize giveaway as another RAP night come to a close.
“Having presented RAP at five of our Hilo schools community, we were very excited to have this opportunity to bring RAP to Pahoa. Principal Kathleen Romero, along with her leadership team, was instrumental in making this happen. I look forward to coordinating RAP in all schools island-wide so that we can fulfill our mission to build communities of lifetime readers, “ said Big Island Program Coordinator Beverly Heikes.