Atkinson Academy 100th day of School Read-a-Thon Challenge

PRESS RELEASE
Atkinson Academy – Grades K, 1 & 2
Read-A-Thon Donation
Submitted by: Stephen Harrises, Principal

Atkinson Academy 100th day of School Read-a-Thon Challenge
Kindergarten, First, and Second Graders at Atkinson Academy LOVE to READ and were so excited to celebrate their 100th day of school on Wednesday, February 9th. All ten classes were challenged by their teachers to read 100 books as a class in less than 100 minutes, so students reached out to family members to sponsor them with this endeavor. This long-standing Read-a-thon tradition at the Academy began over twenty years ago with Mrs. DuLong when she presented this reading challenge to her first and second graders. It soon became connected to raising money to help put books into the hands of less fortunate with the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Over the years, students have raised money to send books to children in Africa, local shelters, restock a Kindergarten Teacher’s classroom library after Hurricane Sandy, sponsor local Summer Reader programs through Children’s Literacy Foundation, and many more worthy causes. This year, students set out to raise money for Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock. Patients (from infants to teenagers) are provided with a library of books to enjoy during their stay at the hospital. Since COVID, the hospital has had to send books home with patients, rather than keep them in circulation, which has depleted their supply. Thanks to the most generous Atkinson community, CHaD will now be able to restock their library with the $10,195.80 that was raised! This has BY FAR exceeded any amount raised since this tradition began and we are so grateful to the community for sponsoring their kindergarten, first, and second graders in this most worthy cause!