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Usually, the benefits of reading include a bigger vocabulary, greater word comprehension, and better conversation skills, but dozens of HISD students received a different type of reward recently from two of the district’s community partners for focusing on literacy over the summer.
Most of the students were recognized for participating in the district’s Extended Primary Year program, which was offered at 29 elementary schools.
“The HISD Literacy Team joined forces with Strategic Partnerships and Elves & More to award bicycles to 100 children who met their literacy goals, had excellent attendance and conduct, and exemplified a can-do attitude,” explained Literacy Director Cindy Puryear. “The Literacy Team will partner with Elves & More again this holiday season to reward more that 7,000 scholars for their hard work and determination. One thousand of those will be rewarded for meeting or exceeding their literacy goals.”
Students from Foerster ES came to district headquarters Wednesday, the first to pick up their brand-new bicycles and helmets.
Ten other students received free at-home libraries or Android tablets after placing in the MyON Summer Reading Contest. At the elementary level, third-grader Varun Manickam (West University ES) walked away with the first-place prize in both categories—the greatest amount of time spent reading and the greatest number of books read—by reading 748 books over more than 57 hours. At the secondary level, seventh-grader Hans Lu (T.H. Rogers) earned the top slot in the number of books read (128), and second place in time spent reading (24 hours). T.H. Rogers also had the most students take home prizes. For complete results, please see the list below.
Elementary level
Number of books read
1. Varun Manickam (West University ES)—748
2. Ava Zhou (Twain ES)—331
3. Eunice Ngakosso (Herod ES)—248
Time spent reading
1. Varun Manickam (West U ES)—57 hours
2. Deborah Weldemichael (Lovett ES)—53 hours
3. Kevin Cano (Reagan K-8)—48 hours
Secondary level
Number of books read
1. Hans Lu (T.H. Rogers)—128
2. Jhair Farino (Pin Oak)—73
3. Jason Ramirez (Pin Oak/Long Academy)—66
Time spent reading
1. Ayomide Osinubi (T.H. Rogers)—49 hours
2. Hans Lu (T.H. Rogers)—24 hours
3. Kumar Aditya (T.H. Rogers)—21 hours
Results by Campus (Districtwide)
Number of books read
1. Moreno ES (7,737)
2. Roosevelt ES (3,884)
3. Horn Academy (3,461)
Time spent reading
1. Moreno ES (1,080 hours)
2. Sugar Grove MS (760 hours)
3. Horn Academy (608 hours)
The Android tablets were provided by Raylene Truxton and Lacy O’Connor of Ubi-Comp, LLC.