FORESTVILLE - March is known for its madness, but on Friday pre-K through fifth grade Forestville students were not wild for basketball, but for books.
The 29th Annual Parents As Reading Partners (PARP) program kicked off at an assembly in the new high school auditorium. This year's theme is a sports theme, the slogan being "Score with Books!"
PARP is a three-week program where students and their parents read together so that students can gain points to win prizes and collectively work toward the goal to have Superintendent John O'Connor and Principal Daniel Grande go head-to-head in a mystery challenge.
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Reading Rocks Forestville
Points can be earned by simply reading for 15 minutes per day, but also by having a TV free night once a week, writing a letter and visiting a local library.
The points goal this year is 8,888. The goal last year was reached and O'Connor and Grande had to compete in a pie eating contest, penguin shuffle, sombrero toss and sumo wrestling.
To kick off PARP Kelly Raichel's After School Enrichment Program students wrote and acted in an original play, Reading Rocks!, inspired by the Wizard of Oz.
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OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino
The Forestville Parents As Reading Partners (PARP) kicked off with an assembly Friday.
The play featured many characters from books like The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Curious George and Dr. Seuss.
The story began with Dorothy who doesn't want to read a book to do her book report. After an earthquake she is transported to Oz where characters help her on her quest to the library.
The Red Queen tried to divert Dorothy on her quest to the library but in the end Dorothy learns to love reading.
Back in the real world, Dorothy reads the Wizard of Oz to finish her book report with her new love of reading, because reading rocks!
The assembly was not over yet, Carol "Mrs. M&M" McPeak-McDonald and Gary Worosz presented the theme, how to earn points for PARP and drew names for prizes.
"Who loves sports?," Mrs. M&M asked the students in the audience. A huge yell of "We do" was heard in reply.
Mrs. M&M said she hoped to have "100 percent 'PARP-ticipation" in reaching the 8,888 point goal this year.
When asked "Can you do it" the overwhelming reply from students was a resounding "Yeah!"
The kids shouted that they would "READ, READ, READ!" to reach the ultimate goal of seeing O'Connor and Grande compete in the Superintendent's/Principal's challenge, which is scheduled for April 8 if 8,888 points is reached.
PARP officially begins Monday and has been a Forestville tradition for 29 years. Last year Forestville won the Chautauqua County PARP Award for its fine readers.
