Submitted article
Each year during Right to Read Week, the Bucyrus Elementary School students are issued a “Reading Challenge”; a reading goal that spans the entirety of Right to Read Week. In addition, the Elementary School Principals issue a challenge to the students, the “Principal’s Challenge”, that if the reading goal is met and exceeded the principals will be involved in a fun activity with the students.
This year’s “Reading Challenge” was for the entire Elementary building to read aloud 2,944 times. The “Principal’s Challenge” was that if the students met and exceeded the goal, then Todd Roll and Timothy Souder would allow the students to duct tape them to a wall.
“The students got excited when Mr. Souder presented them with the ‘Principal’s Challenge’ during our Right to Read Week Kickoff Assembly,” Elementary School librarian Diane Kaple said. “We had students reading throughout the entire building trying to get better at reading and exceed the goal.”
Not only did the Bucyrus Elementary School students meet the goal, they exceeded it with 3,244 read-alouds. With the goal exceeded, it was time for Roll and Souder to keep their end of the deal.
On Friday, April 4, Elementary students took advantage of the opportunity to duct tape their principals to the wall. In total, 633 students used more than 704 yards of duct tape to suspend Roll and Souder above the cafeteria floor in grey cocoons.
“This is something I had done previously when the fourth and fifth grades were at Carlisle,” Roll said. “It was a great experience for the students and I thought it would be a fun reward for the students’ hard work and dedication in meeting their Reading Challenge goal.”
The event took place during the students’ lunch time, and the excitement in the room could not be contained. Students each placed a strip of duct tape over the two building leaders, leaving only the principals’ head, hands and feet exposed.
“The expressions on the students’ faces was absolutely priceless,” Souder said. “Unique activities like this are rare, and I am convinced our students will remember this experience for many years.”
“Our students and staff continue to work together to improve their ability to read, which is the key to their future learning success,” Roll said. “I consider this event a reward for their dedication and diligence in the classroom.”
To learn more about the Elementary School’s annual Right to Read Week activities, contact Kaple at 419-562-6089 or email dkaple@bucyrusschools.org.