Trey and Marley Drake read to students in Allen Thomas’ second grade class at C.C. Ring Elementary School during Read Across America Day in commemoration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Submitted photo

Jamestown Public Schools returned to a favorite tradition in celebration of Read Across America Day and the 119th birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel, A.KA. “Dr. Seuss.”

For the first time since early March 2020, Jamestown High School students involved in the school’s Kappa Alpha Tau chapter of the National Honor Society as well as students involved in Key Club, donning red-and-white hats from The Cat In The Hat, visited the district’s five elementary schools to read classic stories by Dr. Seuss to younger students.

JHS social studies teacher and National Honor Society advisor Donnelle Conti has been involved in the annual event for the last 20 years, calling it one of her “favorite days of the school year.”

“It’s a great opportunity for high school students to return to their elementary schools and show their love for reading,” Conti said. “Everyone involved truly enjoys this experience.”

Conti noted that the event has allowed many students to “come full circle.”

“As elementary students they enjoyed celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday and now they get to be a part of the celebration again,” she said. “There are also a few teachers in the district that were volunteer readers for me at one point and now they get to have readers in their classroom. I enjoy seeing my students and the younger kids connecting over their enjoyment of reading!”

National Read Across America Day was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading. The day occurs each year on Geisel’s birthday.