Flower Hill’s Pick-a-Reading Partner Initiative Underway

Flower Hill Primary School’s Pick-a-Reading Partner program kicked off last week to much fanfare and enthusiasm. It will run through Friday, March 17. This year’s theme is “Blast Off with Reading.

“We are using a fun outer space theme to help encourage all of our students to read,” said Gina Leiter, who is serving as co-chair of the initiative along with fellow Flower Hill parent Jenna Prada.

This year’s program features a partnership with the Vanderbilt planetarium, which was on hand for the kick0ff last year. “The Vanderbilt provided an amazing outreach assembly to all 310 students called ‘Space Adventure to the Moon,’” Ms. Prada said.

The assembly program included hands-on demonstrations and a reading of “There’s No Place Like Space.” The assembly program came at no cost to Huntington UFSD thanks to an educational grant from National Grid.

The planetarium provided Flower Hill School with a free moon poster as well as coupons for free admission to the facility and to a show for one adult and two students; “enough for every student,” Ms. Leiter said. “The planetarium has been amazing to work with and so supportive of our school.”

Flower Hill is also partnering with the Huntington High School robotics team. Members are set to visit the school one morning this week to show-off the team’s 2023 contest robot. “The robotics students also created an inspirational video to encourage our students to read,” Ms. Prada said. “This will be played in all classrooms the morning of their visit.”

The high school students will also be mystery readers in Flower Hill classrooms. “Robotics faculty advisor Omar Santiago and his team have been a pleasure to team up with,” Ms. Leiter said. “We’re sure they will inspire our students to be future robotics team members.”

Every Flower Hill student was provided with a take home packet, including a reading log, bingo board and fun space related activities to do at home. Raffle prizes and top reader prizes will be presented at a closing assembly on March 17. Every teacher will receive an e-version packet with lots of instructional information and links to resources and videos.

Organizers have planned an evening “read-in” on March 16. The Huntington Public Library will be on hand and do a craft activity with students. A special “mystery reader” who is well-known around Huntington UFSD will also appear.

Last year Flower Hill’s PARP program won the New York State PTA’s Suffolk County award recipient. “We are so excited for another fun and educational program this year,” Ms. Prada said.