National Young Readers Day

MANASSAS, VA On Tuesday, November 13th, scores of business people, high school students and local celebrities will enter classrooms throughout the county and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park to read to students as part of National Young Readers Day. National Young Readers Day is an annual event that was founded in 1989 by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress as a special day to recognize the joys and benefits of reading.

This year, the Education Committee of the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce has recruited readers from its membership in both the public and private sectors to visit participating elementary schools across the county to read aloud a favorite children's story or book to their classrooms.

The students at Weems Elementary School in Manassas will hear stories read by a host of "celebrity" readers from the Manassas City Public School system including Director of Human Resources Ken La Londe, Director of Special Education and Related Services Tony Lodovico, PR Specialist Al Radford, Director of Transportation Pam Youderian, Director of Financial Services Jennifer Maguire, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michaelene Meyer and Director of Food and Nutritional Services Cecily D. Anthony. The Mayor of the City of Manassas Doug Waldron and Deputy Superintendent John Boronkay will read at George C. Round Elementary School in Manassas, while Jennie Dean Elementary School will host Manassas City Manager Larry Hughes, Manassas City Schools Superintendent Dr. Gail Pope and Manassas Provost for Northern Virginia Community College Dr. Hortense Hinton.

The former Chair-At-Large and current Vice Chair of the Prince William County School Board, Lucy Beauchamp and Dr. Michael Otaigbe will join the Potomac Nationals at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Potomac Nationals mascot, "Uncle Slam" will also be on hand to demonstrate to students the joy of reading.

At Manassas Park Elementary School, students will hear stories read by Mark Joyner, Manassas Park Fire Marshall; Vanessa Watson, Manassas Park City Planner and Laura Fitzpatrick, Manassas Park Deputy City Manager. The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club of Stonewall Jackson High School has "adopted" nearby West Gate Elementary School and will be sending 19 club members to read to students. The club plans to make National Young Readers Day an annual service project. In addition to reading, the club is holding a school-wide book drive to fill library shelves at Westgate. Not to be outdone, The Osbourn Park FBLA will send readers to Cougar Elementary School in Manassas Park. An associated book drive organized by the Greater Chamber's Education Committee has collected close to 100 books including those to be picked up at the Business After Hours networking event scheduled for November 6th at Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. More than 75 books were donated by the law firm alone. The book drive will continue through Friday, November 30th. Books will be distributed to local charities for holiday giving to needy children. Anyone wishing to participate may drop off new books suitable for grades K-6 or monetary donations at the Chamber office, located at 8963 Center St. in Old Town Manassas from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Barbara Shekailo at 703-330-9500 or email bshekailo@verizon.net.

For more information about the Greater Chamber's Education Committee, contact committee co-chairs, Denyse Carroll, Micron Technology Virginia, 703-396-1559, dcarroll@micron.com; Barbara Hopkins, Ealy Hopkins and Associates; 703-369-7002, bhopkins@ealyhopkins.com or Barbara Reese, BR Associates, 703-791-5862, barbarareese@comcast.net.

 

Date Published: 2007-11-07 06:00:00

Section: Education,