Schools

Miller Elementary Rockland Reading & 100th Day of School Coincide

Teachers and students got a chance to wear PJs today

Mother Goose, the Cat in the Hat and pajamas seemed a little out of place at an elementary school, but today at Miller, there was a perfect excuse.

“It’s a very exciting day today,” said Librarian Iris Heller. “It’s the 100th day of school as well as Rockland Reading Day.”

“Rockland Reading Day doesn’t usually fall on the 100th day of school,” said Principal Elizabeth Smith. “The 100th day of school is usually around Valentine’s Day, but with the three snow days, it happened later in the year this time.”

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“Rockland Reading Day. A lot of the day is reading, purely recreational reading,” said Heller. “They can check out a book from the library. Very often, they bring something from home or pick something from the classroom.”

There’s the main library, but the classrooms at Miller have a mini-collection of books to choose from.

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“This school is chock-full of books,” said Heller, who was dressed up as Mother Goose today from the glasses to the hat and even a stuffed goose. “We’re book characters today. This is the first time we’ve dressed up like this and I think it’s going to be a habit.”

There’s a reading log kept by the students year-round, but for Rockland Reading Day, there’s a special one for just that day. The minutes read for that day are recorded and sent over to BOCES. From there, schools with the most minutes read get certificates. The schools compete against other schools with similar student population sizes. Last year Highview Elementary won in their population class.

“We’re really encouraging reading and we’re lucky our children are really excited about reading,” said Heller.  

Some of the teachers were in PJs and almost all the kids took advantage of just waking up, not changing and going to school as is in their pajamas. One little girl was very excited for the school day and came in a princess outfit.

“I like Princess and the Frog,” said Melania Germosen when asked who her favorite princess was.

“My favorite book? It’s hard because I’m engrossed in children’s reading every day,” said Heller. “One of my favorite books just came out last year. It’s Rocket Learns to Read.


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