JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Sailors and Airmen joined Hickam Elementary School students and faculty for a celebration of literature, imagination and reading during the Read Across America event at the school March 1-4.
Read Across America is a national program that focuses on motivating students to read through events, partnerships and reading resources.
In recognition of the week, servicemembers, parents, teachers and members of the local community took time to celebrate reading by honoring renowned children’s book author Dr. Seuss, whose birthday is March 2, and reading aloud to the students.
“Literacy is very important and it’s nice to rally around Dr. Seuss’ birthday and celebrate reading in a way that’s so colorful and fun,” said Alisa Estrella Bender, HES principal. “The bigger thing, of course, is highlighting how important literacy is.”
Navy Capt. Stanley Keeves, JBPHH commander, volunteered as a reader and kicked off Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a reading of one of his favorite Dr. Seuss books, ‘Oh the Places You Will Go.’
Keeves said Read Across America is a good program because it allows an opportunity for more interaction with the students.
“I volunteered because I wanted to be a part of a great opportunity to show appreciation for educators for the job they do, and also to connect with the larger community,” he said. “Most of the students are military dependents and having folks like myself come to them show we appreciate who they are.”
Keeves, who wore a Cat in the Hat-style top hat while reading, said for him, reading to the students is calming and fun, yet much different than how he normally spends his time as commander.
“I think it was important for us to be here to set the right tone,” he said. “Literacy is so important and we aren’t just coming here to read because they need base personnel it’s because we believe in the importance of literacy.”
After reading his book, Keeves spoke to the class of sixth graders about the life lessons discussed in the book and encouraged the students to always have a great attitude and keep a positive outlook on life.
“Your life is like a big book … each chapter is something different,” he said.
In addition to Keeves, more than 20 different volunteers read to the students throughout the week.
“Each reader is different, and each reader presents his or her book in a different way. That’s what makes it exciting for the students,” said Reva Dacanay, HES librarian.
Dacanay said the school celebrates Dr. Seuss during the Read Across America because he was the first author to place an emphasis on making it fun to learn to read.
Bender, whose personal motto is, ‘Reading is thinking,’ said the experience of reading and being read to helps students develop critical thinking skills, which is a goal of the educators at HES.
“It’s such a delight for us to see the children hear well-written books read aloud,” she added. “You can really see them light up.”
As Read Across America 2016 wrapped up for HES, Bender said she hopes the experience of reading and being read to is not just something that occurs when students are in school, but at home as well.