On Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2nd, everyone at Stafford Elementary took time out to read for thirty minutes. When you entered the school and looked in the classrooms everyone was reading. When I say everyone I mean, everyone in the school. Students, teachers, janitors, cooks everyone just dropped everything they were doing and read for thirty minutes.

Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2nd, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Suess.

Cat in the Hat was also on the scene! He could be seen reading to students in the classrooms after the individual reading was over. The students really enjoyed the Cat in the Hat and had pictures taken with the “Cat”. The “Cat” could be seen giving out many hugs.

Beginning at 2:00 pm there were guest readers that came to every teacher’s classroom and read a selected book, poem or story to the students. These guest readers were:

• Pre-K-community member Teresa Burkhalter
• CBI Room-Stafford teacher Teresa Young
• Mrs. Massey’s kindergarten-parent Julie Hinz
• Mrs. Daughtry’s kindergarten class-parent Brendetta Reed
• Mrs. Spraberry’s kindergarten class-parent Todd Gray
• Mrs. McClesky’s, Mrs. Morgan’s and Mrs. William’s first grade classes-Stafford aide Ramona Simon as the “Cat in the Hat”
• Mrs. Jacinto’s second grade class-Julie Hinz, Dustie Jones, Thea Springer, Vicky Austin, Patricia Rios
• Mrs. Mandrell’s second grade class-community member Ivan Mandrell and Dustie Jones, Thea Springer, Vicky Austin and Patricia Rios
• Mrs. Shepard’s Second grade class-parents Candi Salcido and Dustie Jones, Thea Springer, Vicky Austin, Patricia Rios
• Mrs. Cockran’s third grade class-school board member Curtis Riddle
• Mrs. Mathers’ third grade class-parent Christy Beets and Lauren Byers
• Mrs. Patterson’s third grade class-Stafford staffer Sandra Perez and Stafford teacher Jeannette Janek reading side by side in English and Spanish
• Mrs. Doherty’s fourth grade class-parent Albert Garcia Jr.
• Mrs. Dorazil’s fourth grade class-City Secretary Teri Murdock
• Mrs. Hellner’s fourth grade class-high school teacher Tina Richards and Stafford teacher Leslie Allen reading side by side in English and Spanish
• Mrs. Murphy’s fifth grade class-community member Albert Garcia Sr.
• Mrs. Medrano’s fifth grade class-superintendent Jimmie Malone
• Mr. McLean’s fifth grade class-school board member Cheryl Owen
• Mrs. Prowell’s sixth grade class-community member Diego Garcia
• Mrs. Dalquest’s sixth grade class-Ida Overton
• Mrs. Holley’s sixth grade class-high school coach Andi Windham.

Every student received Dr. Seuss reading certificates, bookmarks and reading stickers to complete another wonderful day at Stafford Elementary.