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Show I 1 t i in! x ' Lffl-v ' - One young reader admires his medal that he earned by reading a minimum of eight books and gathering financial pledges for his efforts. The students collected enough money to purchase encyclopedia sets for each classroom in the school. Kids earn books for reading WOODS CROSS 'Thursday was like Christmas at Woods Cross Elementary School," Kent Larsen, principal of the school, said. On that day, $12,177 worth of World Book Encyclopedias and Childcraft books were delivered to the school. Students at the school earned the books through their participation in the Partners in Excellence reading program, sponsored by the World Book publishers. This reading incentive program is a game of sevens. Students set the goal to read at least seven books in seven weeks. If the student got seven sponsors to pledge a nominal amount of money for each book read, the school received the money. The amount of money raised rais-ed through sponsors who were relatives or close friends was mat-ched($l mat-ched($l from World Book for each $2 pledge). The 840 students at Woods Cross Elementary raised $8,118. With the World Book match, the school received $12,177 worth of World Book products. This meant each classroom in the school received a set of books appropriate for their age level. About 75 percent of the students participated in the program. The student reward, in addition to new books for the school, was medals and certificates. All students received certificates of participation. participa-tion. Students who gathered pledges and read eight books received silver Olympic-style medals. Gold medals went to students who read ten or more books. Super readers who completed 20 or more books were entitled to a certificate plus both medals. A special assembly was held Wednesday to present the awards. The studentbody earned 425 gold medals, 275 silver medals and 560 certificates. Many students exceeded the 20 book goal. A second grader read 70 books. One fifth grade student read 85 books. The program allowed for ages. Kindergarten and first graders could have their parents read a book to them. The Woods Cross studentbody did very well in their first Partners in Excellence experience. They place first in the state of Utah for schools participating in the program and among the top ten in the nation. Principal Larsen commented, 'I believe mis is an excellent program. Anything that encourages reading and gets the family involved is beneficial. The books we received as a reward." |