FHS students celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday by honoring favorite authors
Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006
His books may now be a little below their reading level, but Fayetteville High School students still found a way Thursday to celebrate Read Across America Day, an event that honors Dr. Seuss' birthday.
FHS librarians Cassandra Barnett and Sarah Roberson, wearing the red and white top hats that Seuss' "Cat in the Hat"character is known for, opened up the mural outside the library entrance for modification.
Students were allowed to write the names of their favorite books on the painting.
The mural features "Leon- ardo,"as in Leonardo Da Vinci, standing in front of a bookshelf. When it was painted by art classes, the books on the shelves were left untitled.
So to commemorate Read Across America Day, the librarians started allowing students the chance to write the names of books they've read onto the books. It is a tradition that has been going on for five years now. "This (mural) is kind of unique because it changes every year,"Roberson said. "We require it to be a real book, and we check."
Leonardo's "library"now features an eclectic collection, with a variety of classic fiction, books that have been made into movies, modern literature and even some religious texts such as the Bible and Koran.
The librarians also encourage foreign exchange students to write their book titles in their native language, Roberson said. "Some of the kids really take it seriously,"she said. "This is a mural students bring people to see,"Barnett said.
After five years, one might think all the books on Leonardo's shelf would be filled with titles, but there were still some openings as of 11 a.m. Thursday.
Barnett said she and Roberson used to be librarians at elementary schools, which usually have more activities than high schools to commemorate Read Across America, and filling in the mural is a way for the high school to celebrate the event.
The school had open times for any student to submit a title, such as lunch, but the librarians also invited certain classes to have their students write-in titles.
In particular, students from the senior English "Reader's Choice"class went to fill in book titles. The class is structured so individual students can choose what books they read for assignments. "They got to come because the focus of this class is on reading,"teacher Thelma Tarver said.
Some students from the art classes also helped pick out colors and write in the titles. "I think (the mural) is great,"senior art student Hannah Bailey said. "I think it's just a good addition to the school."
Senior Rose Gross said the best thing about the mural is students can leave their mark on the school when they select a title. "I think it's a really good idea,"she said. "I put up 'The Purpose Driven Life' by Rick Warren."
Several other Fayetteville schools also planned events to commemorate Read Across America.
McNair Middle School held a 102-minute "Seussa-thon"to commemorate what would have been the children's book authors 102 nd birthday, according to McNair librarian Sarah Thompson. Readers from each of the school's six pod teams took turns reading for a total of 102 minutes.
Asbell and Holcomb elementaries hosted several guest readers for the day and reportedly served birthday cake at lunch, according to Alan Wilbourn, director of school/community relations.
Vandergriff Elementary students were reportedly allowed to write titles of their favorite books in chalk on the school sidewalks.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
