‘Read Across America’ continues tradition of honoring Dr. Seuss

Supt. Bill Kowba with Chief of Staff Bernie Rhinerson
at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary.

Elementary and K-8 schools across San Diego Unified School District celebrated Read Across America Day last week, honoring the birthday of San Diegan Theodore Geisel – better known as Dr. Seuss – by inviting volunteers, neighbors and local celebrities to read The Cat in the Hat and other Seuss classics to elementary children.

Readers ranged from San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, Board of Education members and district senior staff to members of Engine 18 at the San Diego Fire Department.

At Carver Elementary School in City Heights, Mayor Filner joined the firefighters. Filner, a former San Diego Unified Board of Education member, read his favorite Dr. Seuss book, Thidwick The Big Hearted Moose.

Carver’s student celebrated the week by studying words to describe character’s emotions. In addition they acted out two Seuss classics, The Sneetches and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, followed by a schoolwide parade where students marched as storybook characters.

Bayview Terrace, Carson, Encanto Academy, Garfield, Hardy, Kimbrough, and Lindbergh Schweitzer were among the other schools with Read Across America celebrations.

At Lindbergh Schweitzer, Supt. Bill Kowba and Chief of Staff Bernie Rhinerson were guest readers. The students presented Kowba with a retirement cake (Kowba retires June 30).

Encanto Elementary School welcomed its community partner, the US Navy Meteorological Command, and other friends of the school for a day of reading.

In its 16th year, Read Across America Day is the nation’s largest reading celebration. More than 45 million people around the country participate annually to highlight the importance of developing a love for reading at an early age. The event is sponsored by the National Education Association with support from more than 50 national nonprofit and association partners. Locally, everyone-from schools to libraries to community centers to churches to hospitals to bookstores-is invited to host local events to celebrate and promote children's reading.