Centralia Elementary has guest readers
By Loreen Berlin
Celebrating Dr. Seuss’ 114th birthday, Centralia Elementary School invited 20 guests to read to students throughout the school day on Friday, March 2.
The school, located in Anaheim, with the district office in Buena Park, serves students from Buena Park, Anaheim, La Palma, and Cypress from K-6.
Some of the readers included Buena Park Mayor Virginia Vaughn, 2013’s Miss Buena Park Emily Parker, who is now a Danbrook Elementary School Special Education instructional assistant; 2018 Miss Buena Park Lolani Campos, and 2018 Court Princess Taylor Good, to name a few. A mystery “Cat in the Hat” accompanied readers to various classrooms too.
Many people at the school assist in inviting guest readers from throughout the community such as Principal Dr. Tia Brown and Food Services personnel Dina Parker, who helps coordinate the effort each year.
“Reading to the students is always gun and the children are so cute; I love to volunteer and seeing their smiles is heartwarming,” said Parker. “When I read the first year as Miss Buena Park and entered the classroom, students said, ‘Hi Princess,’ and I almost cried.”
The purpose of Read Across America in the United States is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that seeks to have children in all communities celebrate reading.
March 2, or the date closest to that, was selected because it was the actual birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss.
It started back in 1997-8 when the National Education Association moved the idea forward and it has become the largest celebration of reading in the country and was first officially held March 2, 1998.
And to date, organizers say they feel Dr. Seuss, who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel, in 1904 would be proud to see that his books are still enjoyed today by children and adults. It has been the combination of humor, amusing pictures, and sayings that rhyme that have children’s interests.
What was Seuss’ favorite food? It’s the name of one of his books—green eggs and ham. Seuss wrote more than 60 children’s books and sold more than 650 million books throughout his life and some have been made into movies.
“Oh the Places You’ll Go” was his last published book, in 1990.
Is Seuss an actual doctor? He added Dr. to his pen name because his father had wanted him to practice medicine, and so when he received an honorary doctorate from his Alma Mater Dartmouth College in 1956, “Dr.” was added.
Centralia Elementary has been in existence for 25 years, starting out in a different location before the current permanent location at 195 N. Western Ave., in Anaheim.
The school has been holding Read Across America for 25 years for its students. They partner with Orangeview Junior High and Western High School and the Regional Occupational Program students from Western High School also take part in the annual reading to celebrate Seuss’ birthday.
The school has an active Parent Teacher Association that helps supplement field trips and they are a Title I Distinguished School.
Centralia School District was established in 1875 and was the first school district in California to provide free textbooks to students. Today, the district has eight elementary schools with enrollment at approximately 4,500 students.
According to the annual California Safe Schools Assessment Report, Centralia School District is said to have one of the lowest crime rates amongst Orange County school districts and each of their schools has a comprehensive school safety plan.
As a sign at the school reads, “Character Education programs encourage youngsters to exhibit ethical, personal, and work behaviors which focus on attributes such as respect and responsibility.”
