Sacred Heart School holds read-a-thon

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted February 27, 2003

A three-hour lock-in on Feb. 21 kicked off a weeklong read-a-thon for students at Sacred Heart Grade School in Sioux City.

Carole Stone, a member of the school parent group, headed up this year's read-a-thon and lock-in with fellow parent, Meg Stinnett. Parents have sponsored the event for a number of years.

"Every year we have a theme. Last year, the read-a-thon took place during the Winter Olympics so we did an Olympics theme, explained Stone.

More than 165 students, about two-thirds of the student body, attended the lock-in that was held from 3 to 6 p.m.

"Students were able to accumulate reading minutes during reading periods at the lock-in and then we also had other activities," said Stone. "I knew the bicentennial for Lewis and Clark was starting this year, so we thought it would make a nice theme."

The lock-in and other aspects of the read-a-thon tied into the theme. For starters, the lock-in was called Camp Wood because that is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition got together before setting out on their journey.

To kick off the lock-in, two speakers from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City spoke to the students.

Two employees of Sacred Heart added to the excitement of the day. Louie Welch, who works in building maintenance, dressed as Captain Meriwether Lewis and third-grade teacher, Melissa Pleuger, dressed as Sacajawea.

The two helped to organize games such as "Courier" that was similar to the message relay game "Telephone." They also helped to hand out the "rations" or snacks that were stored in bandanas.

Other games included Jump the River and Frontier Blizzard where one student was blindfolded and the other helped them through an obstacle course.

Twenty-minute reading sessions were interspersed throughout the activities. Students made themselves comfortable in the school gymnasium with sleeping bags, pillows, bean bags and stuffed animals.

Staci Raders, a fourth-grader at Sacred Heart, said she learned a lot about Lewis and Clark and Clark's dog, Seaman, from the speaker. She found it to be a fun activity.

Second-grader Eric Yacoub said he liked the read-a-thon because the games and reading were fun.

Mariah Irwin, a sixth-grader, said, "It's a great time to learn what Lewis and Clark really did."

Another sixth-grader Kelsey Tweet said the lock-in was effective in getting the students to want to read.

"It is something you can do with your friends and just hang out," she added.

Isaiah Cloud, a fifth-grader, especially liked the introduction of the lock-in as the speakers "gave us a lot of facts and information."

As the lock-in drew to a close Captain Lewis handed out Clark bars and Sacajawea gave out certificates for free Wendy's frosties.

Reading activities were held at Sacred Heart throughout this week. In a journal, students kept track of the minutes they read at home.

"We set up a path that Lewis and Clark took and when they reach different levels on the path, they earn a trip to what we call The Trading Post," Stone explained. At each level - a target number of minutes based on the grade - they get a small prize. Everyone who made it to level one received a participation ribbon. Those who made it to level four received a reading award.

On Feb. 28, they will have an assembly where the top five readers in each grade and top two teachers will receive a Sacajawea Gold Dollar in a case.

"It encourages reading and does so in a fun way," said Stone.