Arcadia challenges Taylorsville Elementary to reading duel

A gauntlet was thrown down in Taylorsville Elementary School's auditorium on Oct. 3.

Arcadia Elementary's reading specialist, Charlene Pedersen, issued a challenge to Taylorsville students, saying that Arcadia students can read more than they can before the end of the school year. The stakes? Students from the winning school get to cover the losing school's principal and reading specialist in silly string.

The challenge was accepted.

"You do anything to keep them motivated," Taylorsville Principal Michelle Love-Day said.

This good-natured competition has been going on for two years.. Last year the count was so close that both Jon Adams and Terri Roylance--the schools' principals at the time-- got silly stringed. Perhaps this year will be different.

"I want Arcadia to know that Taylorsville students are the best readers and writers in the city, and they should watch out," Love-Day said.

"I challenge every [Taylorsville] student to match our goal," Arcadia's current principal, Cecilia Jabakumar, said. "Beat us if you can."

Of course, amidst all the school spirit and big talk, the real reason for the competition is to get students to read more. Both schools are participating in the Ken Garff “Reading Road to Success” program, and both have high goals for student reading during the year. The rivalry between the schools is separate from the Garff program, and is just a fun way to get the students to step up their efforts.

"This is for those who like competition," Pedersen said.

Both schools are several weeks into the Garff program, and have already drawn their first names for bicycle winners. As part of that program, students earn stars for meeting weekly reading goals. Each star also earns them a raffle ticket, and every eight weeks a lucky boy or girl gets a brand new bike. Fifth graders Emily (Taylorsville) and Nathan (Arcadia) won this round.

Parents can participate in the reading challenge as well, by taking time to read with their children, and leading by example.

"We model best when we read ourselves, and are seen reading," Jabakumar said.