After Meeting Reading Goal, Students Turn Principal Into Ice Cream Sundae

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SNOW HILL – Students at Snow Hill Elementary School celebrated the culmination of a schoolwide reading project with a sweet treat this week.

The end of the One Book, One School program at Snow Hill Elementary provided students with the chance to turn their principal into an ice cream sundae on Monday.

Principal Mary Anne Cooper sat in a kiddie pool, wearing plastic coveralls and goggles, as kids took turns slathering her with ice cream and chocolate syrup in the cafeteria at the Snow Hill school. In spite of the raucous laughter and squeals of glee as Cooper was coated in dessert products, the children remained aware of why they were being treated to such a good time.

“She wants us to learn fluency,” one second-grader said.

Indeed, according to Cooper the One Book, One School program was implemented to inspire a love of reading and increase literacy skills among Snow Hill Elementary’s students. This year, children read three books together in what Cooper calls a schoolwide book club.

“Everybody in the building can talk to any child about one of these books,” Cooper said. “We were able to increase literacy and that love of reading.”

The program even extended beyond the school, as reading the books became a family affair for many of the younger students whose parents and siblings read with them. The latest book featured, The Chocolate Touch, prompted Cooper’s offer to be turned into a sundae. The book, based on the tale of King Midas and his golden touch, tells the story of a boy who turns everything he touches to chocolate. Cooper told the students that if they participated in a “penny war” to support the reading program, the class that collected the most coins from each grade level would be given the chance to cover her in chocolate ice cream.

“Having reading happening is an important thing,” said Laura Arenella, the school’s reading resource coach. “This makes it fun.”

Students, eager to take part in the event, collected more than $1,270 in coins. Cooper says the money, which is going into the school’s new literacy account, would help cover the costs associated with the One Book, One School program so that it can be repeated again next year.

“It’s been a tremendous success,” Cooper said.