The Wilton Education Foundation (WEF) has kicked off the 9th year of its “Reading Rocks!” program, a fun and non-competitive Read-A-Thon to encourage children in grades PreK through 5 to have fun reading while raising money for WEF.
This year WEF has introduced a digital donation option this year, which can be accessed via the WEF website.
All proceeds from the program benefit Wilton Public Schools. In its first eight years, Reading Rocks! raised more than $300,000, which helped WEF fund several initiatives, among them:
- Middlebrook Makerspace
- Cider Mill Virtual Reality Technology Lab
- Miller-Driscoll Student-Run Postal Center
- Miller-Driscoll TV/Recording Studio
- Odyssey of the Mind Sponsorship
- Professional Development for teachers ($20,000 in 2019)
Registration and pledge forms were sent home with students home during the official kick-off on Friday, Jan. 10. Pledges and money are due back on “Dress Like A Rock Star Day,” Friday, Jan. 24. The reading period runs from Jan. 25 through Feb. 8.
Students are able to choose their own goals for the Reading Rocks! Read-A-Thon. Ideas include independent reading, reading with an adult or sibling, flipping through a picture book, reading via Skype with a far-away relative, or something else.
Reading Rocks! is made possible with the support of Wilton’s Stroup family.
Disclosure: GMW editor Heather Borden Herve is a member of the Wilton Education Foundation executive board.