Whitko elementary school students celebrated World Read Aloud Day by dressing as their favorite book characters and having books read to them. Pictured is South Whitley Elementary School mental health therapist Nate Wessels as he reads to three classes of first-graders. Photo Provided.
Whitko elementary school students celebrated World Read Aloud Day by dressing as their favorite book characters and having books read to them. Pictured is South Whitley Elementary School mental health therapist Nate Wessels as he reads to three classes of first-graders. Photo Provided.
Staff members visited with South Whitley Elementary School first- and second-graders during World Read Aloud Day, Feb. 1, bringing their favorite picture books to share or selecting a popular story to read to their rapt audiences.

Students in Tammy Datzman’s, Hillary Singrey’s and Angie Tranter’s first-grade classes and Jennifer Brown’s and Nicole Berger’s second- grade classes heard from school resource and K-9 officers Tim Clark and Jake; mental health therapist Nate Wessels; SWES librarian Robin Banacka, Whitko Superintendent Tim Pivarnik, master teacher Lindsey Smith and Curriculum and TAP Director Chris Evans throughout the day, according to a provided news release.

SWES Principal Joel Holsopple said, “Reading can bring a community together. The students loved having the guest readers come in and share their love for reading with them. We look forward to making this a regular event at South Whitley Elementary School.”

At Pierceton Elementary School, children’s books authors visited virtually with Lucy Branam reading to fourth-graders; Kerry O’Malley Cerra, to sixth- and fifth-graders; Cindy Chambers Johnson to third-graders; Maria Gianferrari to second-graders, Anne Marie Stephens to first-graders and Lynne Marie to kindergarteners.

Many of the students (and staff members) dressed as their favorite book characters.

World Read Aloud Day has called attention to the importance of sharing stories for 13 years. The global effort was created by the non-profit  LitWorld group and sponsored by Scholastic. It’s celebrated in more than 173 countries each year with people grabbing a book, finding an audience and reading aloud.

Whitko Community Schools includes a junior senior high school, a career academy and two elementary schools with pre-K programs.

For  more information about Whitko Community Schools, call the central office, 260-327-3677 or visit whitko.org.