(The following June 22, 2012 Bedford Gazette article is used with permission)
Cienna Gardner and Denae Mobis, back, climb through tunnels
to start the obstacle course during Silly Olympics day Wednesday
at the Everett Elementary School, part of the Everett Free Library’s
summer reading program day camp.
Everett library, school join in summer reading
By Holly Claycomb
Bedford Gazette Staff Writer
Gretchen Clark squeezes water on Josiah Seese during
Drip, Drip, Splash, a hot weather spin on Duck, Duck, Goose.
Students taking part in the summer reading day camp at the Everett Elementary School this week were not necessarily just from the Everett School District. There were also students from Northern Bedford and Spring Cove, among others, said Justin Hillegas, principal of Everett Elementary School. Gazette Photos/Holly Claycomb EVERETT — The Everett Free Library and Everett Elementary School teamed up to offer a week of summer reading program activities at the elementary school this week. More than 200 students ages pre- K through sixth grade signed up for the day camp, with about 150 students taking part in each day’s activities.
This is the first year the school and library came together to offer the activity, said Judy Hillegas, library director at the Everett Free Library. She said the week was made possible with grants and donations from area businesses.
Emily Hess climbs the wall of the obstacle course.
“The school donated the space, electricity, water and
refrigeration,” Judy Hillegas said Wednesday afternoon.
In addition, the school provided two buses and a van that picked up students at several locations in the district, including Breezewood Elementary, Mann Monroe, Chaneysville, Sweet Root Park and others, said Justin Hillegas, elementary principal.
The library received a $ 750 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation in conjunction with their distribution center in Cessna and a $2,000 grant from the Bedford County Chamber Foundation. The Sheetz Foundation also donated lunches Monday for the day camp participants.
The school and library decided to combine resources to try to attract children who need reading help and get them interested in visiting the library, Judy Hillegas said. The combined effort seemed to pay off, she added. “I’ve had a lot of new ones in the library to get cards.”
Danica Morse reads a book on zebras while cooling off
in the gymnasium Wednesday afternoon.
While registering students for prekindergarten and kindergarten, Justin Hillegas said parents were given information on the program and a lot of them signed up their children. Not only do the soon-to-be students get a chance to interact with others, they had the opportunity to see the school and become familiar with riding a bus and being separated from their families for the day.
“This has been an outstanding program for us,” Justin Hillegas said. “Both of us coming together for this has been wonderful as we encourage kids to read more.”
The program at the school runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Friday, with book reading and special activities planned each day.
On Monday, students had the opportunity to visit the star lab and learn about the constellations. They also played Space Lingo Bingo, made their own constellations and took part in command module and parachute activities.
Tuesday’s theme was Dream Catchers, while Wednesday was the Silly Olympics, held outside on the track.
Nocturnal animals were Thursday’s topic, with Jessie Barnes from Blue Knob State Park on hand to talk about the creatures of the night. Students focused on fireflies while reading “ The Very Lonely Firefly” by Eric Carle and made firefly mobiles. A theater presentation was also be offered and student made masks.
The week will wrap up on Friday with the theme of Night Shivers. There will be a movie and lots of activities, including pass the sand, human string relay, hula hoop relay and discus throw.
The summer reading program,”Dream Big! Read!” will continue through Aug. 10 at the Everett Library. During this time, children can read for fun and for points to earn prizes.
The library also offers a home summer program for children that are a year away from attending kindergarten. Participants can earn points for prizes by reading books and completing the “getting ready to read activities” offered to them.
Story hour programming for preschoolers is also offered every Friday from 11 a.m. to noon.
For more information about any of these programs, call the library at 652-5922.