January & February 2020 Drawing Winners (Radical Reading Program)
It’s been said that everyone is a reader... some just have not found their favorite book yet. At West Jones Jr./Sr. High School, Media Specialist, Rhonda Perkins is helping students discover a passion for reading through her new Radical Reader of the month program. For each book checkout, students’ names are entered into the drawing each month for the Radical Reader “swag pack”.The swag pack is made up of various goodies including water bottles, caps, posters, button pins, and books that were donated by The Lion Forge publishing company. Additionally, the annual Scholastic Book Fair earnings were used to purchase prizes like purses,trinkets, balls, games, and school t-shirts.Since beginning the program, Perkins has awarded a January and a February winning student. Winners are announced via school-wide intercom and their picture is made and submitted to local newspapers and displayed on our school website.
Program creator, Rhonda Perkins says, “Although this is just the beginning, I feel certain that this program will continue to promote student interest in reading as well as bring even more students to the library. Of course, the ultimate goal is to get every student reading! I am so thankful that the Jones County School District generously funds our libraries, so that I am able to regularly purchase high-interest books and any titles requested by students and teachers.”One of her favorite stories during the program is of a student who checked out a book on golfing. When he returned the book, Perkins asked the student what he thought about his selection, and his response was, “I tried a different technique I got from the book, and it improved my golf swing!”
Perkins says “I would love to see every student reading for pleasure during his or her free time.”Perkins is also currently working on a summer reading program to reduce the “summer slide.” This program would include a few designated dates in the summer to open the school library for book check out to enable students to read all summer long. Do you have any exciting ideas for increasing circulation or decreasing summer slide? If you have any ideas you’d like to share, please reach out to Perkins at rperkins@jones.k12.ms.us.
Submitted by:
Rhonda Perkins, NBCT
Media Specialist
West Jones Jr./Sr. High School
