High School Students Read to Elementary School Students for Annual Read-a-Thon

by Talia Herbst, SSLI '25

Every year after February break, our elementary school holds its annual Read-a-Thon. The Read-a-Thon is two weeks long, and students in each grade compete with the other grades to read as much as they can.

With the help of the Book Club, led by junior Shir Levenson, high school students spent their free periods or lunches reading to elementary school classes. Junior Micah Bidner, for example, read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish in honor of Dr. Seuss Day to the kindergarten class. Bidner got the chance to read to his sister's class. Bidner said, “It was really sweet. They were all so cute and appreciative. One of [the kindergartners] came up after and even said, ‘Thank you so much.’”

A high schooler reads to younger students. (SSLI Instagram)

Sophomore Penina Charry, another student that participated in the Read-a-Thon, read The Invisible Boy to third graders. Charry said that she “loved” reading to the lower school students.

Sarah Shlefstein, a junior, also enjoyed having the opportunity to read to the students. She shared, “It was so rewarding to see their faces light up as they listened to the story.”

Charry stated that she was glad she got the opportunity to read. She explained, “Usually, I just see the kids walking in the halls, but it was nice to sit down with them and actually be with them.”

Shlefstein concluded, “It was a wonderful experience to connect with the younger students. It was a meaningful way to give back to the school community, and I’d love to do it again.”

Talia Herbst is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since December 2021. Talia is currently a senior at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: therbst25@schechterli.org