FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BURLINGAME – California's public school teachers will join students and several celebrities on Wednesday to celebrate the joys of reading in events being held statewide for the National Education Association's eighth annual "Read Across America."
The theme for this year's California celebration is "Happy Readers Come From California…Got Books?" The event is held March 2 in honor of the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss. Millions of educators, parents and children take part in the reading festivities nationwide.
"The more reading that children do outside of school, the better they do in school," said Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association. "When kids open a book, they open their minds to the joys of reading and learning."
Kerr will join 220 first-graders Wednesday in a reading event at Moffett Elementary School in Inglewood, where she will be joined by the honorary chairperson for California's Read Across America celebration, actress Shelley Buckner, a star of the WB "Summerland" TV series. Students will read "Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows" by Katy S. Duffield. The three top CTA officers will be giving books donated by Scholastic Books to schools they visit for reading events.
CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez will join celebrities, the mayor and others in a "read-fest" at Fair Oaks Ranch Community School in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County. CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dean E. Vogel will be in Chino at Howard Cattle Elementary School where festivities will include a drama club rendition of the "Farmer McPeepers" book.
A Sampling of California 'Read Across America' Events Wednesday
INGLEWOOD: CTA President Barbara E. Kerr and NEA Executive Committee Member Michael Marks will join the state's honorary Read Across America chairperson, actress Shelley Buckner, as well as JC Chasez from the hit band "NSYNC." The 8:45-10-15 a.m. event is at Moffett Elementary (Lennox School District), 11050 Larch Ave., Inglewood, 90304. It includes reading and then a hands-on art lesson on drawing the mischievous cows from the "Farmer McPeepers" book, by the book's illustrator, Steve Gray. School: 310-330-4943.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY: CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez will take part in several reading activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fair Oaks Ranch Community School, 26933 N. Silverbell Lane, Santa Clarita, 91387. A reading festival will include celebrities, the Santa Clarita mayor, firefighters, radio DJs and local businesses. School: 661-299-1790.
CHINO: CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dean E. Vogel will attend events at Howard Cattle Elementary, 13590 Cypress Ave., Chino, 91710. After performing the "Farmer McPeepers" book, members of the Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach) award-winning drama club will be among those reading the book to kids. Keeping with the book's cow theme, the event ends with milk and cookies donated by the Milk Producers Council in Chino. School: 909-591-2755.
COMPTON: A star-studded day is planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Roosevelt Middle School, 1200 E. Alondra Blvd., Compton, 90221. Celebrities reading to kids will include actors Arlen Escarpeta ("American Dream"), Nana Gbenwanyo ("Coach Carter"), Erica O'Keith ("Romeo!" on Nickelodeon), Alana Curry ("Terminator 3"), Steffani Brass ("Silver Lake"), Cole Evan Weiss ("The Sandlot 2"), Jillian Clare ("Days of Our Lives"), Lauren C. Mayhew ("Raise Your Voice"), Andy Lauer ("Caroline in the City), and Claudia Jordan ("The Price Is Right"). School: 310-898-6040.
SAN DIEGO: A Dr. Seuss birthday cake and playground booths where kids can win books are among the activities happening from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rosa Parks Elementary, 4474 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, 92115. School: 619-282-6803.
SACRAMENTO: Reading on the hour, every hour, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Dyer Kelly Elementary, 2236 Edison Ave., Sacramento, 95821. Local zoo representatives will read "If I Ran the Zoo," while local sheriff's deputies, dentists and doctors also share reading duties. Keeping with the cow theme of "Farmer McPeepers," the principal will wear a cow costume. School: 916-566-2150.
FRESNO: Actor Steven Anthony Lawrence of "Even Stevens" and "Cheaper by the Dozen" fame will join an open house of reading fun starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Teague Elementary, 4725 N. Polk Ave., Fresno, 93722. School: 559-276-5260.
SAN JOSE: Wednesday morning, fourth- and fifth-graders at Cureton Elementary, 3720 East Hills Drive, San Jose, 95127, in Alum Rock School District will read Dr. Seuss books to younger kids while wearing costumes. Eighth graders will read after lunch. School: 408-928-7350.
SANTA CLARA: Servings of green eggs and ham to students in pajamas are among several activities planned from 8:40 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. Wednesday at Briarwood Elementary, 1930 Townsend Ave., Santa Clara, 95051. Teachers will wear stovepipe hats and numerous guest readers include the city's chief of police. Call teacher Cynthia Kummer: 408-554-6202.
SAN BERNARDINO: Students from Cypress Elementary School in Highland, San Bernardino County, will be up bright and early Wednesday morning to travel to Hollywood to promote Read Across America on the KTLA-TV Morning News. They will be joined by a special costumed guest for the live, 7-9 a.m. broadcast Wednesday at the station, 5800 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 90028. KTLA is at 323-460-5500.