The St. Croix District has announced its participation in the 2009 Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® national campaign. Annually, thousands of children and adults are encouraged to read the same book on the same day. This year, Thursday, Oct. 8, students, teachers, parents and other education stakeholders are encouraged to read the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, toward increasing public awareness about the early education gap, according to a press release from St. Croix District Superintendent of Schools Gary Molloy.
"Reading aloud with children lays the groundwork for strong literacy skills and future success in school and in life," said Superintendent Molloy. "Jumpstart’s Read for the Record was created as an international campaign to bring children together with grownups to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. In 2008, nearly 700,000 readers shared the classic children’s tale, Corduroy, including readers in St. Croix elementary schools. This year, readers and children will enjoy The Very Hungry Caterpillar with a goal of one million children."
The books and T-shirts have been donated to the St. Croix District’s kindergarten classrooms by the Pearson Foundation. Additionally, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico has made it possible for the students to add the book to their personal home libraries.
Schools and community organizations that want to participate may register at https://secure2.convio.net/rftr/site/SPageServer?pagename=2009_register