Oswego HS athletes join Lakewood Creek students in celebrating a summer of reading
October 15, 2012
When Miles Simelton was in elementary school, his favorite book was Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham. At the time it may have been the sound of the rhymes or the funny illustrations that captured his attention. However, as Simelton grew older, it was the theme of the book that stuck with him. “It taught me to keep a good attitude when trying new things,” Simelton explained to a gymnasium filled with Lakewood Creek Elementary students who were enjoying their school’s 2012 Summer Reading Challenge Celebration. Simelton encouraged the first through third graders to continue reading, even though the learning sometimes may seem difficult.
Green Eggs and Ham “was my favorite book because it taught me to try new things and never judge a book by its cover. Maybe if I disliked something before, if I gave it a chance, I might find myself liking it,” Simelton said. “I thought the assembly was a good opportunity to inspire the children to read and follow their dreams. I wanted them to know a good athlete has to be a good student.”
Simelton, and three other student-athletes from Oswego High School visited with Lakewood Creek Elementary students October 2 as part of the school’s summer reading challenge celebration. The event was designed to celebrate past reading accomplishments and encourage future reading by totaling the number of minutes the student body read during the summer break. Building off of an Olympic reading program theme, the Oswego High School student-athletes were invited to serve as role models for the younger students and discuss how excelling at sports is similar to learning how to read—it takes dedication, practice and a no-quit attitude. “The students were able to look up to someone who is not too much older than them and see us as role models, knowing they will be doing what we are doing in the near future,” Simelton said.
Simelton, a captain of the Oswego High School basketball team; Kelsey Hjorth, a track and cross country standout; Amelia Walsh, cheerleading captain and Jack Kwiatkowski, football captain, attended the event at Lakewood Creek and each answered questions about reading, congratulated the top student readers and competed in an obstacle course.
“The Summer Reading Assembly allowed time for our students and teachers to come together and celebrate the outstanding reading efforts that transpired over the summer – a time, in which less reading may occur,” explained Lakewood Creek Principal David Brusak. “The program assists with bridging one year to the next as it relates to reading. The assembly produces energy, passion, and excitement that encourages students to enjoy reading all year long and gets them interested in participating in the program the following summer.”
Brusak opened the Olympic-themed summer reading celebration by talking about the reading program and explaining how parents, teachers and other adults serve as “coaches” ready to help and encourage students if reading got difficult. The fun-filled event included the singing of the Star Spangled Banner—complete with an American flag and Olympic torch—a highlight video of memorable moments from the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, a visit from Lakewood Creek mascot Cody the Coyote, interviews with the star athletes from Oswego High School, a recognition of student reading “medalists,” an obstacle course and finally a reveal of the total number of minutes read by students during the summer.
The summer reading initiative began at Lakewood Creek three years ago. Students were encouraged to read during the summer months and keep a reading log of the number of minutes they read. The
minutes from all participating students were then totaled so they could be used as a benchmark to compare/compete with the minutes read the following summer. The first year 164,000 reading minutes were recorded, increasing to 186,000 minutes in year two. This summer, students participating in the Read for Gold summer reading program continued to build upon the previous year, and increased their total to 225,000 minutes read.
Reading teacher Alison Towrek, who was instrumental in planning the event, noted that reading was an important building block for all learning. “The Lakewood Creek reading team encourages students to read for the same reason as Dr. Seuss, ‘The more that you read, the more things that you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go,’ she said."