On Tuesday, February 7th, BP Oddo kicked off his annual Readers Are Leaders 4th Grade Reading Challenge at P.S. 38. “Readers are Leaders” challenges 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 20th – March 27th. Students will then submit a report on their favorite book that they read during the period. Each school will pick one “Exceptional Reader” to receive an award at a ceremony in May. The challenge was started 21 years ago by then-Councilman Vito Fossella before being taken over by the Borough President’s office. Since its inception in 1996, 4th graders have read more than 630,000 books for the annual challenge.
BP Oddo was joined at the event by former Congressman Fossella and Joan Correale of Barnes & Noble. Talented students at the school sang songs and performed ballet and traditional Lunar New Year dances for the crowd. “Magician Mike” Lane performed a magic show for the students. He is the author of the “Magic Shop” Series. As an added bonus to the challenge, “Magician Mike” will offer special prizes for the students who read his books and submit the best book report based on a book from his series. In addition, a special appearance was made by Scooter, the mascot for the Staten Island Yankees.
“You guys are joining a wonderful tradition,” said BP Oddo. “This is a truly special program that has brought the love of books into the lives of so many Staten Island children. Whatever you want to learn about, whatever place you want to go to, reading can take you there."
"Magic happens when you open and get lost in a book,” noted Nancy Murillo, principal of P.S. 38.
The program is sponsored by Barnes & Noble, CTV, Macmillan Publishing, “Magician Mike” Lane and the Staten Island Yankees.
BP Oddo was joined at the event by former Congressman Fossella and Joan Correale of Barnes & Noble. Talented students at the school sang songs and performed ballet and traditional Lunar New Year dances for the crowd. “Magician Mike” Lane performed a magic show for the students. He is the author of the “Magic Shop” Series. As an added bonus to the challenge, “Magician Mike” will offer special prizes for the students who read his books and submit the best book report based on a book from his series. In addition, a special appearance was made by Scooter, the mascot for the Staten Island Yankees.
“You guys are joining a wonderful tradition,” said BP Oddo. “This is a truly special program that has brought the love of books into the lives of so many Staten Island children. Whatever you want to learn about, whatever place you want to go to, reading can take you there."
"Magic happens when you open and get lost in a book,” noted Nancy Murillo, principal of P.S. 38.
The program is sponsored by Barnes & Noble, CTV, Macmillan Publishing, “Magician Mike” Lane and the Staten Island Yankees.
