Havre de Grace Elementary School
2012 Update: Students read 77,645 minutes in their school’s Ben Carson Reading Room. Coordinators have said, “Students LOVE using the room! They enjoy the range of books. Students cheer on days they know we are going to the reading room. Even reluctant readers enjoy the time in the reading room – there is no pressure to ‘be able to read.'”
Community support abounded in the establishment of this Havre de Grace Elementary School Reading Room. Not only did public officials, such as local congressmen and city officials, and other community leaders attend the ceremony, but parents and teachers went all out in developing a unique room reflective of their waterfront community. The wooden pier that runs the full length of one wall, complete with marine varnish and marine-rope encircled posts is just the perfect height for students to lounge on with a book, and was built by one of the parents! Above the pier, a hand-painted mural (the work of the art teacher) visually takes you out to sea. The comfortable bean-bag chairs rest on sand-covered carpet, edged with sea-blue carpet to represent the water! Besides stuffed and carved replicas of sea creatures, they even have a glass wall-fountain with the state bird (heron) and continuously piped-in relaxing sounds of waves!
The Havre de Grace Elementary School Reading Room was sponsored by Stack & Store.
