On Tuesday, May 2nd, Borough President James S. Oddo presented awards to this year’s “Readers Are Leaders” Exceptional Readers at the Bernikow JCC.
“Readers are Leaders” challenged 4th grade classes in Staten Island’s public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of six books at grade level or above during the five-week period of February 12th – March 19th. Students then submitted a report on their favorite book that they read during the period. This year, we added a new component to the challenge. Students who participated in the challenge were required to read “Way of the Warrior Kid” by Jocko Willink. Each school picked one Exceptional Reader, who received an award from the Borough President.
Since the program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996, 4th graders have read more than 660,000 books for the annual challenge.
BP Oddo was joined by author and magician Mike Lane, who performed a magic show and gave out awards to students who read books from his Magic Shop series.
“‘Readers Are Leaders’ has helped foster Staten Island children’s love of reading for more than 20 years, and I’m thrilled to continue the ‘Readers Are Leaders’ tradition,” noted BP Oddo. “You read for fun, you read to learn, you read to escape, you read to get better at certain things, and if you want to be a leader, you do well by reading and reading as much as you can. I want to congratulate all of this year’s participants and hope they continue reading and learning.”
“Readers Are Leaders” is sponsored by CTV, Barnes and Noble, and the Staten Island Yankees.
A full list of winners is below:
Anna Rams, PS 1
Dominika Sikorjak, PS 3
Nicholas Randazzo, PS 4
Patricia Block-Sheehan, PS 8
Aimy Kapllani, PS 11
Valeria Diaz, PS 19
John Guastella, PS 23
Amin Jahaj, PS 26
Asha Rivera, PS 29
Lisa Trifaro, PS 30
Naomi Navarria, PS 35
Edina Durakovic, PS 38
Crystal Calo, PS 42
Sade Lind, PS 44
Eden Tam, PS 48
Hannah Cruz, PS 50
Michael Kaganovich, PS 52
Ella Norato, PS 56
Javen Marque, PS 57
Jude Greene, PS 65
Sophia Jin, PS 69
Omari Onwe, PS 78
Kayla Rizzo, PS 861
June Ka, Gateway Academy
Francesca Albanese, Holy Rosary
Leila Crisano, Notre Dame
Nico Puccio, Our Lady of Good Counsel
Jonathan Jacknow, Our Lady Help of Christians
Nicolette Mauriello, Our Lady Star of the Sea
Isabella Jichetti, Sacred Heart
Alyssa Badillo, St. Adalbert
Dianna Spagnola, St. Ann
Isabella Mignano, St. Charles
Emma Branca, St. Clare
Vladyslav Hrytsay, St. Dorothy Academy
Taylor Colella, St. John Villa Academy
Andrew Lahage, St. Joseph Hill Academy
Thomas Moore, St. Joseph St Thomas
Sonia Conti, St. Patrick
Rebekah Abraham, St. Rita
Kelly Hutchinson, St. Theresa
Magic Shop Readers
First Place: Ethan Stadler, Our Lady Star of the Sea
Second Place: Santina Corso, Our Lady Help of Christians
Third Place: Cameron Esposito, St. Charles, and Chazz Siewert, St. Clare
Honorable Mention: Alexa Hakanson, St. Charles, and Naomi Navarria, PS 35
“Readers are Leaders” challenged 4th grade classes in Staten Island’s public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of six books at grade level or above during the five-week period of February 12th – March 19th. Students then submitted a report on their favorite book that they read during the period. This year, we added a new component to the challenge. Students who participated in the challenge were required to read “Way of the Warrior Kid” by Jocko Willink. Each school picked one Exceptional Reader, who received an award from the Borough President.
Since the program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996, 4th graders have read more than 660,000 books for the annual challenge.
BP Oddo was joined by author and magician Mike Lane, who performed a magic show and gave out awards to students who read books from his Magic Shop series.
“‘Readers Are Leaders’ has helped foster Staten Island children’s love of reading for more than 20 years, and I’m thrilled to continue the ‘Readers Are Leaders’ tradition,” noted BP Oddo. “You read for fun, you read to learn, you read to escape, you read to get better at certain things, and if you want to be a leader, you do well by reading and reading as much as you can. I want to congratulate all of this year’s participants and hope they continue reading and learning.”
“Readers Are Leaders” is sponsored by CTV, Barnes and Noble, and the Staten Island Yankees.
A full list of winners is below:
Anna Rams, PS 1
Dominika Sikorjak, PS 3
Nicholas Randazzo, PS 4
Patricia Block-Sheehan, PS 8
Aimy Kapllani, PS 11
Valeria Diaz, PS 19
John Guastella, PS 23
Amin Jahaj, PS 26
Asha Rivera, PS 29
Lisa Trifaro, PS 30
Naomi Navarria, PS 35
Edina Durakovic, PS 38
Crystal Calo, PS 42
Sade Lind, PS 44
Eden Tam, PS 48
Hannah Cruz, PS 50
Michael Kaganovich, PS 52
Ella Norato, PS 56
Javen Marque, PS 57
Jude Greene, PS 65
Sophia Jin, PS 69
Omari Onwe, PS 78
Kayla Rizzo, PS 861
June Ka, Gateway Academy
Francesca Albanese, Holy Rosary
Leila Crisano, Notre Dame
Nico Puccio, Our Lady of Good Counsel
Jonathan Jacknow, Our Lady Help of Christians
Nicolette Mauriello, Our Lady Star of the Sea
Isabella Jichetti, Sacred Heart
Alyssa Badillo, St. Adalbert
Dianna Spagnola, St. Ann
Isabella Mignano, St. Charles
Emma Branca, St. Clare
Vladyslav Hrytsay, St. Dorothy Academy
Taylor Colella, St. John Villa Academy
Andrew Lahage, St. Joseph Hill Academy
Thomas Moore, St. Joseph St Thomas
Sonia Conti, St. Patrick
Rebekah Abraham, St. Rita
Kelly Hutchinson, St. Theresa
Magic Shop Readers
First Place: Ethan Stadler, Our Lady Star of the Sea
Second Place: Santina Corso, Our Lady Help of Christians
Third Place: Cameron Esposito, St. Charles, and Chazz Siewert, St. Clare
Honorable Mention: Alexa Hakanson, St. Charles, and Naomi Navarria, PS 35
