Carrollton Elementary students ‘take over’ principal’s office, duct tape leader to the wall

By Carol McIntire

Editor

Carrollton Elementary School students closed out the school year with a party unlike any other: students sitting in the principal’s chair and the principal taped to a wall!

The party stage was set when the results from the school’s first Read Across America Week read-a-thon were announced. Students recorded 179,344 minutes of reading and raised $19,389 for the elementary library.

Mrs. Landis’ third grade class read the most minutes and received an ice cream party. Kayla Pape’s second grade classroom raised the most donation dollars and received a pizza party. Third grade students read the most minutes and were afforded the opportunity to duct tape Principal Holly Dodds to the wall to kick off Field Day in late May. 

As part of the deal, two students, Trace Clark and Lucas Favri, had the opportunity to serve as principal for a day, a position that included making morning announcements.

Clark, a kindergarten student, raised the most donation dollars in the school and Favri, a fifth grader, read the most minutes.

Dodds said Ryker Savage, Clark, Kolton Weir, Harper Booth, Rowan Barnes, Stella Stromski and Grace Copeland raised the most donation dollars for each grade level. 

“This was our first and will not be our last Read-A-Thon,” Dodds said, talking about the success of the event.  “Our students were so excited to track their minutes, compete amongst each other and raise funds for our school library.”   

She talked about the goal of teaching children a love of reading.

“Carrollton elementary teachers and staff have been working hard to instill a love for literacy.  The best way we have found to do that is give our students the tools they need to be successful readers: solid literacy instruction, access to books and experiences to enjoy reading.

I couldn’t walk down the hall without being told, “Mrs. Dodds we are going to read so much!” “Watch out Mrs. Dodds, I got new books to read! I’m going to tape you to the wall!”, “When I win, I’m going to be principal!”

“I am so proud of all their efforts and achievements!” the principal continued. “I can’t wait to see what next year brings.”