Kujawa Elementary School Administrators “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” to Literacy

Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! Program supports reading during National Young Readers Week in November.

Principal Debera Thomas (far right) dressed up as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” for Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! Challenge. Assistant principals (l-r) Cornita McDaniel, Kim Jenkins and Sonia Pace joined her. They are dressed as the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tinman. The group had fun promoting reading.

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]he [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]International Baccalaureate World School took part in [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! “Principal Challenge” on November 11. The event formed part of the program’s National Young Readers Week celebration. The initiative raises awareness about the importance of literacy. It also generates a passion for reading among children.

National Young Readers Week was co-founded by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in 1989. This year’s theme was “Reading Never Grows Old.”

During the week, Pizza Hut challenged principals across the country. Pizza Hut asked them to be reading role models for students to follow. The principals chose one day to read to students. From the first morning bell to the end of the school day, they read their hearts out.

[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Kujawa Elementary Principal Debera Thomas read aloud to students. Assistant principals Sonia Pace, Kim Jenkins and Cornita McDaniel also joined her. They spent the entire day sharing their love of literature with students.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]campus leaders dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz. They followed a yellow brick road throughout the campus to promote literacy.

Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow more light. — Vera Nazarian, author

Thomas hopes that parents are also inspiring their children to read at home too.

“I believe reading helps children imagine and envision so many possibilities,” said Thomas. “Reading also broadens children’s knowledge and understanding. When you give a child a book you are enlarging that child’s world.“

Jenkins collaborated with Tara Rollins to prepare for the event. Rollins is the information literacy specialist at the campus. Aside from selecting costumes, they also chose classic children’s literature stories to engage students.

“The staff and students enjoyed the experience,” said Jenkins. “This was a great way to engage students and promote the love of reading. The goal was to show our students that reading is fun. Reading at a young age is key to academic and future success.”

Lions, Tigers and BOOKS, oh my!