Jamestown High School students involved in the 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 in celebration of Read Across America Day and the 120th birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel, A.K.A Dr. Seuss.

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!”

“I got involved in this 26 years ago when I started teaching,” said Conti.” I have always had a love for reading and took over the program about 22 years ago. As the advisor of National Honor Society, most of my readers come from NHS, Key Club and Student Organizations.”

The event is a favorite of students of all ages.

JHS Honor Society students, from left, Sydney Maggio, Ella Storms, and Kaitlyn Kennedy read to students in Maddysen Nugent’s class at Lincoln Elementary School on Read Across America Day.

“My high school students love going back to their elementary schools and seeing their former teachers and staff members,” Conti said. “They cannot wait to read to the classrooms of their former teachers or in their siblings/cousins/neighbors’ classrooms. It is also very fulfilling to hear my JHS students recall Read Across America Day when they were in elementary school. Even 7 or 8 years later, they still recall being read to by JHS students.”

JHS senior Olivia Olmstead chaired the event for the National Honor Society.

“I enjoyed the excitement of the children the most,” said Olmstead. “The kids get so excited to have a new friendly face in their classroom, especially when that new face is wearing a silly hat and reading a silly book to them. The children were all so genuine, interactive and respectful to us readers. This made it a fantastic volunteer opportunity that both the reader and the audience benefit from. ”

Conti hopes that the experience is able to be more than just a simple classroom visit — to future JHS graduates, it’s a pivotal moment.

“Our high school students need to be role models for our younger students,” she said. “This gives our younger students a chance to hear from the older students about the importance of reading as well as their high school experiences. They also get to hear about the academic, musical and sports success these JHS kids have had since leaving elementary school.”