ENON — Enon Mayor Tim Howard and Police Chief Lewis Wilcox paid a visit to Enon Primary School recently to inspire reading among the young students and to help support a weeklong read-a-thon that raised funds for the parent-teacher group, K-1 Club.
Howard and Wilcox were among a number of community leaders, including Greenon Local School District Superintendent Brad Silvus, who visited preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders and read aloud a camping-themed book for their Camp Read S’more Read-a-Thon.
The 301 readers spent 51,960 minutes reading books and secured 175 sponsors to raise funds for enrichment opportunities for Enon students, classroom support for their teachers and to help purchase new playground equipment. Most of the students’ sponsors were parents and grandparents who committed a specific amount when the students reached their goals.
Howard visited Sarah Suarez’s kindergarten class and read aloud “Camping Day” by Patricia Lakin. Howard spoke about Sam, Pam, Will and Jill, who were crocodile friends with big camping plans but became lost on their way to the campsite, got attacked by a swarm of bees and faced other frightening experiences. However, all ends well, according to Howard.
Meanwhile, Wilcox dropped by a preschool classroom later in the afternoon to read another amusing camping book. The preschoolers also took on the challenge to have a reading time with an adult each day during the weeklong read-a-thon and worked diligently to reach their goals.
Wilcox said he and other local officers routinely perform community activities at local schools and other community organizations.
“We enjoy special times like this with the young students who then see us as community helpers,” Wilcox said.
According to the teachers at Enon Primary School, the read-a-thon is a fun way to raise money for school projects while inspiring young students to share their love of reading in the classroom and at home.
