Category Archives: Schools

Questions rise as enrollment falls

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South Coast freeways are more crowded than ever, but there are fewer bikes in the cul-de-sacs and not as many strollers being pushed toward neighborhood parks.

What’s more, skyrocketing home prices are squeezing out middle-class families and bringing in seniors and upper-income families who tend to have fewer children.

In the 1998-99 school year, the Santa Barbara Elementary School District had 6,201 students. This year there are 5,876 students enrolled, with the numbers projected to fall to 5,770 this autumn. Declining enrollment is expected to hit the junior high schools this fall for the first time since 1996 and spiral into the high schools just two years later.

Why is this a problem? While research backs the common-sense notion that smaller learning environments help boost student achievement, fewer students mean fewer dollars for schools that are already strapped for cash. Fewer students also mean fewer parents who are available and willing to pony up the volunteer hours and fund-raising dollars to help fill in that gap.

In an effort to deal with some of these challenges and make optimal use of the facilities and resources available to the schools, the Santa Barbara School Districts has hired local consultant Pat Saley to assist with updating the Facilities Master Plan, which was last completed in 2003. As part of the initiative, the district will request input from the community about the “big-picture” issues that affect the schools.

In addition to changing demographics and enrollment trends, this includes the possibility of designating additional space for pre-school programs, as well as permanent facility needs for the K-8 Open Alternative School, currently housed at La Colina Junior High; the K-8 Santa Barbara Charter School, currently housed at Goleta Valley Junior High; and the K-6 Santa Barbara Community Academy, currently housed at the downtown district office and at Santa Barbara Junior High, and soon to have some students housed at La Cumbre Junior High.

Also under discussion are what to do with excess space in schools, plans for the two properties the districts own — in Hidden Valley and near San Marcos High — that were once designated for new schools, how new projects should be funded, whether the districts should continue to allow student transfers, and if, hypothetically, an elementary school were to be closed or relocated, how that should be handled.

“We’re asking for input on how to best use our facilities and properties,” Superintendent Brian Sarvis said last week. “None of these decisions have been made … this is the beginning of that process.”

“The idea is to figure out our priorities,” said Saley, who emphasized that the meetings weren’t focusing on individual schools needs yet.

Saley said about 50 people attended the first three community meetings and that she will present a summary of their input to the school board June 14 or June 28.

Santa Barbara School Districts consultant Pat Saley can be contacted at 969.4605 or psaley@silcom.com with any comments or questions.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on June 2, 2005.

Fausett explains principal rotation idea

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Hope School parents were shaken last week when superintendent Gerrie Fausett announced plans to reassign all three of the district’s principals in the fall. So far, the other two schools, Monte Vista and Vieja Valley, appear to not be too stirred.

“It’s created quite an uproar at Hope School,” said Fausett, who became superintendent in January. “I have several calls from other schools saying that they understand. That they like their principal but that they understand the need to have a district perspective and the sharing the wealth with regard to what each principal can bring to the site.”

About 100 Hope parents protested at the district office May 27, the result of a hastily organized phone campaign after Fausett visited teachers at each school to make the announcement the day before. Letters also went out to parents explaining her decision to move Hope principal Patrick Plamondon to Monte Vista, Monte Vista principal Judy Stettler to Vieja Valley and Vieja Valley principal Barbara LaCorte to Hope.

Some Hope parents carried signs that read “Don’t tear the heart out of our school,” to which Fausett responded, “For me, the heart of the school has to do with teachers and students, and that’s what I look at when I try to make these difficult decisions.”

School board members are backing the decision but Fausett said she did not get their consent since the superintendent has the authority to assign management personnel.

Still, the scheduled June 6 board meeting should be a lively one. Hope parents held a meeting May 31 to plan strategy.

Vieja Valley parents were planning a June 1 forum on the decision. A note to parents from the PTA executive board stated, “One of the strengths of our Vieja Valley community is that we are a thoughtful, intelligent group of individuals. We try not to act (and react) purely on emotion, which does not usually lead to good decisions. We like to get the facts and hear various viewpoints.”

Monte Vista parents did not have any immediate organized effort.

Principal shakeups are not an anomaly on the South Coast. In 2001, Isla Vista and Foothill schools switched principals, as did El Rancho and Ellwood schools, according to Goleta Union School District assistant superintendent Daniel Cooperman. Goleta reassigned other principals in the 1980s, he said.

Fausett — who previously served as principal of Santa Barbara Junior High and Washington schools, as well as Santa Barbara’s assistant superintendent of elementary education — said the management moves would strengthen the district and had nothing to do with enrollment trends or closing a school.

“As … we’re working on curriculum or textbook adoption or whatever, Patrick will have the benefit of knowing two-thirds of the district instead of only one-third,” she said.

“It helps principals help superintendents make the right decisions.”

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on June 2, 2005.

Hope principals transferred

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Hope School parents were quite shaken last week when superintendent Gerrie Fausett announced her plans to reassign all of the district principals in the fall. But so far the other two district schools, Vieja Valley and Monte Vista, appear to not be too stirred.

“It’s created quite an uproar at Hope School,” said Fausett, who became superintendent in January. “I have several calls from other schools saying that they understand. That they like their principal but that they understand the need to have a district perspective and the sharing the wealth with regard to what each principal can bring to the site.”

About 100 Hope School parents gathered in protest at the district office Friday morning, as the result of a hastily organized phone campaign after Fausett visited teachers at each of the three school sites to make the announcement the day before. Letters also went out to parents explaining her decision to move Hope School principal Patrick Plamondon to Monte Vista School, Monte Vista School principal Judy Stettler to Vieja Valley School and Vieja Valley School principal Barbara LaCorte to Hope School.

Some of the Hope School parents carried signs that read “Don’t tear the heart out of our school,” to which Fausett responded, “For me, the heart of the school has to do with teachers and students, and that’s what I look at when I try to make these difficult decisions. I don’t believe that Patrick is the heart of a school, just like I was not the heart of Santa Barbara Junior High or Washington and that good things happen in the classroom where teachers and kids interact and that’s what it’s all about.”

Fausett stressed that the decision was not made lightly. “As a superintendent you’re hired to make some really tough decisions. This is a decision that has been really tough. I knew it would be tough, and yet, I’m not going about it light heartedly at all, I’ve given it a lot of thought.

School board members are backing the decision but Fausett said she did not get their consent. “The policy says the superintendent shall assess the needs of the district and assign management personnel to meet that need. It is something that the board knew that I was planning, but I didn’t necessarily ask them for their approval or anything,” she said.

Still, the regularly scheduled June 6 board meeting should be quite a lively one. Hope School parents held a meeting May 31 to plan strategy.

Vieja Valley parents were planning a forum on June 1 to provide an opportunity for people to voice their opinions in a “neutral environment.” A note to parents from the PTA Executive Board stated, “One of the strengths of our Vieja Valley community is that we are a thoughtful, intelligent group of individuals. We try not to act (and react) purely on emotion, which does not usually lead to good decisions. We like to get the facts and hear various viewpoints.”

Monte Vista parents did not have any kind of an organized effort as of press time.

This type of principal shakeup is not an anomaly on the South Coast. In 2001, Isla Vista School and Foothill School switched principals, and El Rancho School switched with Ellwood, according to Goleta Union School District assistant superintendent Daniel Cooperman. Goleta also made some other principal reassignments in the 1980s, he said.

Fausett — who previously served as principal of Santa Barbara Junior High, principal of Washington School and as Santa Barbara’s Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education — characterized the management move as something that’s common in both the private and public sectors.

“I’ve had the experience of being moved from one place to the other and though it’s not necessarily something that you welcome and embrace all the time, but what happens is that once you get settled and started with the new school year and you realize that there are great parents and great kids all over this district and I think our principals need that benefit,” she said. “It benefits our students, but it’s going to benefit our principals as well.”

Asked if the decision to move the principals had anything to do with declining enrollment or closing one of the schools, Fausett said that was not a factor and that the moves are to strengthen the district. “As we’re in principal meetings and we’re working on curriculum or textbook adoption or whatever, Patrick will have the benefit of knowing two-thirds of the district instead of only one-third … it helps principals help superintendents make the right decisions.”

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on June 2, 2005.

Antioch takes an alternative approach to higher education

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Antioch Hall, Antioch College, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Antioch Hall, Antioch College, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

While undergraduates across the nation sit in enormous lecture halls enduring their required courses and wondering, “What does this theory have to do with me?” undergraduates at Antioch University sit in a cozy group setting and thoughtfully ponder Professor Hymon T. Johnson’s philosophy, “theory without practice is pointless.”

Its all part of the school’s Service-Learning in the Community seminar, which is required for all undergraduates. Johnson recently took his class to the Santa Barbara Zoo, where they hosted 34 special needs children from El Camino, Ellwood and McKinley Schools, as well as eight of their teachers and teacher’s aides. This was all part of Antioch’s Annual Community Service Day, which began five years ago out of his desire to teach students, faculty, and staff the importance of “connecting in the community in which you live.”

The school has a very unique mission, “to make the world a better place.” The class really changes their way of seeing the world, said Johnson, a former UCSB professor and Goleta Union and Crane Country Day School board member.

Kym Mathers, a psychology major, said community service day was a great experience and a bit of stereotype buster. She had three boys in her group and said they were “bright, articulate, with great vocabularies,” adding, “these were not at all what you think of when you say handicapped children.”

Sitting in on one of the service-learning students’ Monday night meetings, they talked about their community service internships and related the text — which includes writings from a variety of academics, as well as the five major religious traditions — to things that were going on in their own lives.

Volunteering in the pediatrics unit at Cottage Hospital, Nicole Weaver, a psychology student, said she absolutely loves it. “I’m learning a lot about how to give my time other people.”

Ryan Ptucha, a communications major who is doing his internship at Devereux, said he was struck by how much attention his special needs charges required.

“I keep having to remember what it is to serve,” said Susan Utter, a psychology student who bemoaned the “dry, clerical tasks” she was asked to perform in her internship at the SLO Hep C Project in San Luis Obispo.

Wendy Barchat , a business major volunteering at the Single Parent Community Resource Center, is herself a single parent, and said it was difficult for her not to do “everything and then some, short of sending a check out of my own pocket,” for the people she was serving, “at the price of my own family.”

When Barchat commented about the difficulty of becoming too involved with the people she was serving, Johnson took that opportunity to lead the class into a lively discussion on codependent relationships and when the best help is no help.

“Critical thinking and diverse perspectives guide our curriculum,” explained Johnson, as his students discussed the writings of work of Ram Dass, Mother Teresa and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“I keep coming across things in the reading that fit exactly what I’m going through in my life,” said Utter.

That’s what should happen, said her professor with a knowing smile. “This is what education is supposed to do, not just fill our heads but also fill our hearts.”

For more information about Antioch University and Service-Learning in the Community call 962.8179 or visit www.antiochsb.edu.

Originally published in SuperOnda Magazine in May 2005.

Vieja Valley wins Math Superbowl

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With enough intensity and focus to rival many professional athletes, 431 “mathletes” from 37 local schools competed last week at the 24th Annual South Coast Math Superbowl.

Vieja Valley School took the top prize, defeating 2004 champion Washington School. Kellogg School was in third place, followed by Monte Vista, Cold Spring and Hope Schools.

Each school uses its own screening process to choose the participating mathletes.

At Monte Vista, for example, coach Kim Barney said the entire top math group is given a test to qualify. “I take the top 12 and work with them for about two weeks and then they take another qualifying test and weed it down to five, four team members and one alternate.”

Each school was allowed to field three four-person teams of fourth, fifth and sixth graders. The overall team scores were made up of a combination of individual multiple choice test scores and a team test. There was also a hands-on activity, with separate awards, where teams were challenged to build the tallest freestanding structure they could out of straws, washers and string.

While team members can vary from year to year, Monte Vista’s sixth grade team of Ben Bordofsky, Ryan Gilmore, Johnny Manzo, Ben McKenzie and Amy Ransohoff has been competing together since fourth grade, with the alternates alternating from year to year.

“They’re very motivated to win. They want it again,” said their teacher and coach Lila Allen. The team won in fourth grade and came in second last year, but alas, this year they placed third. They did get a little consolation, however when Bordofsky, Manzo, McKenzie and Ransohoff each won individual medals (Gilmore was the 2005 alternate and not eligible).

Plus, they got the added benefit of “going out for pizza afterward and higher test scores,” laughed Barney.

The winning sixth grade team was from Washington, with Vieja Valley in second place, followed by Monte Vista, Adams, Kellogg and Hope School.

The fifth grade winning team was from Kellogg, followed by Vieja Valley, Washington, Mountain View, Monte Vista and Montecito Union tied for fifth place, and Cold Spring was in sixth place.

Vieja Valley won the fourth grade title, followed by Cold Spring, Kellogg, Washington, Hope and Monte Vista schools.

Hosted by Montecito Union, Cold Spring and Peabody Charter schools the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and Raytheon Vision Systems, representatives awarded individual Olympic-style medals to:

4th Grade School

1st Hanah Koper Vieja Valley

2nd Helen Yang Adams

3rd Eugene Cho Kellogg

4th Agnetta Cleland Vieja Valley

4th Kevin Hempy Vieja Valley

4th Kyle Mayfield Cold Spring

5th Alex Kolarczyk Washington

5th Colin Fristoe Cold Spring

5th Rishika Singh Kellogg

6th Sedric Kim Mountain View

5th Grade School

1st Devin Pearson Adams

2nd Vy-Luan Huynh Kellogg

3rd Ryne Cannon Santa Ynez

4th Thanh-Liem Huynh-Tran Crane

4th Sadnie D’Arcy Montessori

4th Connie Wang Brandon

5th Laura Voyen Kellogg

5th Jackie Botts Mountain View

5th Chloe Warinner Monte Vista

5th Astron Liu Monte Vista

5th Annie Thwing Vieja Valley

6th Avery Schwartz Montecito Union

6th Janine Wilson Kellogg

6th Jake Moghtader Cold Spring

6th Tim Cronshaw Montecito Union

6th Nicholas Carney Monroe

6th Grade School

1st Peter Bang Vieja Valley

2nd Dillon Kraus Washington

2nd Noah Connally Adams

2nd Fabian Chacon Kellogg

2nd Nicholas Below Washington

2nd Ellen Gleason Hope

2nd Qsi Tran Montecito Union

2nd Robie Behlman Adams

3rd Ben Bordofsky Monte Vista

3rd Danny Zandona Washington

3rd Jordan Carlson Adams

3rd Annie Lefley Kellogg

4th Chloe Hughes Roosevelt

4th Matt Swann Hope

4th Johnny Manzo Monte Vista

4th Louis Warne Vieja Valley

5th Cong Dinh Brandon

5th Michael Shaner Brandon

5th Ben McKenzie Monte Vista

5th Nicole Ferrel Roosevelt

5th Melinda Wilson Ballard

5th Kelly Kosmo Mountain View

5th Carly Biedul Crane

5th Sebastian Gomez-Devine Peabody Charter

5th Sergey Sushchikh Isla Vista

5th Simon Manson-Hing Washington

5th Kayvoh Mazooji Peabody Charter

5th Jason Lew May Grisham

5th Amber Wang Ellwood

6th Christian Mkpado Vieja Valley

6th Amy Ransohoff Monte Vista

6th Al Vorosmarthy Isla Vista

6th Aislinn Dunne Cold Spring

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on May 26, 2005.

Bishop High separates from archdiocese

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Setting an independent course for its future, Bishop Garcia Diego High School officially became the first school in Southern California (and one of only a few in the nation) to separate from its governing archdiocese and become an independent, private Catholic high school on May 24, commemorating the announcement with an assembly for students and the press.

Dubbed as “a brand new day for Bishop High,” the principal, Rev. Thomas J. Elewaut, C.J., said that the board of trustees would take over the management of the high school. “We are all committed to ensure a Catholic tradition of Christian secondary education here in Santa Barbara,” he said at the assembly, where leaders of the archdiocese formally signed over the building.

The school began in 1932 as Catholic High and became Bishop Garcia Diego High School in 1959. Elewaut characterized the new management model as a sequel, stating, “It is now commonly accepted that blockbuster movies will have sequels. It is also well known that for sequels to be successful they must carry the moviegoer to new places.”

The board of trustees — which includes Patricia Aijian, John Ambrecht, Keith Berry, David Borgatello, Randal Clark, Eileen Curran, Peter Da Ros, John Gherini, Sr. Angela Hallahan, John Hebda, Carol Hoffer, Ralph Iannelli, Barbara Najera, Carla O’Neill, Lynette Patters and B. Williams — has been open with the community about its intentions to take over Bishop High’s management for more than a year, frequently publishing letters which address the changes in governance. The group has also stated that financial assistance will be made available, on a sliding scale, to every family that cannot afford full tuition of $8,500.

According to Elewaut, “We have celebrated 100 percent college admission by our graduates since 2002. This is our inheritance and our legacy to the future students of Bishop Garcia Diego High School.”

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on May 26, 2005.

What’s in style at the prom

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Parents can relax a little this year, as skin is no longer quite so in for prom dress fashions.

“This year we are seeing a lot of more girlish dresses that are sweet and not overtly sexy,” said Jane Keltner of Teen Vogue magazine. “There is definitely a move in the market from the overtly sexy to the sweet look. There is a move from trashy to classy.”

“Pouffy is not really in,” said San Marcos High senior class president Sarah McGinnis.

Popular styles include strapless tube top type gowns, “but mostly long, fitted through the middle and then kind of bigger at the bottom,” she said. Beading is also popular.

Another very popular style echoes Kate Hudson’s look in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.

“I remember last year, at least six girls were wearing that dress in a different color. And I already know a girl who’s got it for this year’s prom. … Everybody loves that dress,” McGinnis said.

Girls heading to the big dance will be influenced by red-carpet style as well. Fashion experts cite Cate Blanchett’s multicolored Academy Awards gown, headbands like those worn by Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman, and Charlize Theron’s champagne-colored gown from 2004 as major prom fashion influences.

Teen Vogue advises young women to have fun with jewelry on prom night. “Pile on the costume pearls — long strands, short strands or both. Brooches are great to pin not just on your dress, but also to a bag or in your hair.”

The magazine also touts the wonders of metallic shoes. “Slingback, strappy metallic heels go with every dress and will add a touch of sparkle to your look.”

And for the boys, you can’t go wrong with a classic black tuxedo. PromDressGuide.com recommends the single or double-breasted shawl lapels. “These styles are absolutely perfect for the young man who wants to look classic and super-elegant.”

Originally published in South Coast Beacon  on May 5, 2005.

Fairy godmothers help girls play dress up

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Preprom. Taken by Ken Stokes on May 20, 2005, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Preprom. Taken by Ken Stokes on May 20, 2005, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Their own daughters aren’t even going to the prom this year, but that didn’t stop Sarah Kass and Julie Lauritsen from stepping up to play fairy godmothers for some other budding Cinderellas.

The two San Marcos High moms have gathered a collection of prom dresses to help young women ease some of the financial burdens of preparing for that night of nights.

Along with appealing to girls who may not be able to afford a new prom dress (which can be hundreds and even thousands of dollars), the women are trying to “teach basic accountability as far as you don’t have to waste things and you don’t have to always buy things new,” Kass said.

Lauritsen started requesting dresses by making calls to friends whose daughters had graduated. They’ve already done their first inventory and have gotten Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners, 14 W. Gutierrez St., to donate its services. This week some volunteers will model the dresses at lunchtime to build up some awareness of their availability.

“We’re doing the best we can to make this as exciting and nonissuable,” Lauritsen said. “We’re trying to make it clear that the kids can spend their money on all the extras and borrow a dress and save their money as we go.

“For girls when they have the manicures and the hair and the makeup, let alone the flowers, it’s just ridiculous. Boys can rent their tuxes, and why can’t girls borrow dresses someplace?”

Why indeed. When Lauritsen explained the idea to Kass, she came on board right away.

“She is just so excited about it for all the years to come,” said Lauritsen.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on May 2, 2005.

Prom time is prime time

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Preprom. Taken by Ken Stokes on May 20, 2005, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Preprom. Taken by Ken Stokes on May 20, 2005, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

One of the most anticipated nights on the teenage social calendar is nearing, as seniors the three local public high schools gear up for their last hurrah — the senior prom.

Dos Pueblos High will be first this year, with its prom May 14 in Warren Hall at Earl Warren Showgrounds. The theme will remain a secret until the day of the prom, adviser Kelly Choi said.

Senior class officers Alisa Lee, Eileen Peyton, Janae Royston, Jessica Sanchez and Monica Shaner are planning the event, said Choi. The PTSA is also sponsoring an after-prom party in the dome at the showgrounds.

San Marcos High’s prom is May 21 at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort. Plans have been in the works since the summer, said senior class president Sarah McGinnis, whose cabinet team of Amanda Coyle, Annick Lamb and Heather Van Buren picked the theme, “Central Park, Some Kind of Wonderful.”

“It’s like the New York skyline, and the ficus trees and all of that,” said McGinnis. A San Marcos tradition, the prom tickets will be souvenir key chains. Attendees will receive souvenir mugs with the prom logo on it, and names of the graduating class listed on the backside. “We’re also doing little mint cases with the prom logo,” said McGinnis, who has a $2,000 budget to work with for gifts and decorations.

Janine Pugh, a parent who is also a party planner, is helping coordinate the decorations, McGinnis said. “It’s really great, she’s awesome. It would not be the same without her,” she said.

The San Marcos PTSA will host an after-prom party at the Elks Club.

Most people will at least stop by the after-party, McGinnis predicted.

“I wouldn’t say everyone stays there the whole night, but they definitely come by and do the gambling and things like that,” she said.

Santa Barbara High’s prom will be held at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort on May 28. The theme is Casablanca, like the movie, said assistant principal David Hodges.

Betsy Turner is the parent chairwoman for the prom and the PTSA is planning an after-party at Zodo’s Bowling & Beyond, Hodges said.

Usually people go to dinner before the prom in groups, said McGinnis, “unless they’re like dating or something.” But before dinner there are pictures to be taken, with parents and others.

Limousines are popular modes of transportation, but “people have done the LandShark, or used the trolley, all sorts of stuff,” said McGinnis, who went to the prom last year as a junior.

“Being a senior girl, I mean prom’s like the first thing on your mind once school ends junior year. No one likes to admit that, but that’s basically what it comes down to,” she said.

“(The prom) is a huge deal. Most people go.”

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on May 2, 2005.

Battle of the Books

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Reading comprehension, retention is the name of this popular game

The Lucky Ligers may have taken home first place honors, but every child came out a winner at the county’s fourth annual Battle of the Books on April 14.

Combining reading comprehension with a thirst for competition and the need for diplomatic cooperation among teams of six students (grades four to six) who have never met before, students had just seconds to come to a consensus answer on questions about the 30 books they were assigned from a pre-selected list.

Familiar childhood titles such as Beverly Cleary’s Ralph S. Mouse and E.B. White’s Trumpet of the Swan, mingled with newer books like Jamie Gilson’s Do Bananas Chew Gum? and Joanna Cole’s Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth.

“I read 29 of the books,” boasted Alexandra Siefe, from Los Berros School in Lompoc, to her No Namers teammate Sarah Jamieson of Foothill School. “When we started the school year, I started to check them all out from the library.”

Some Vieja Valley School students got an even earlier start when third-grade teacher Teri Brown sent them home with the book list last summer, along with a letter encouraging them to read and take notes. She started meeting with interested students in October, with the top six earning spots on the battle teams.

“The schools were clamoring for spaces, and it filled very quickly,” said Steve Keithley, who spearheaded the project for the county Office of Education. There were a total of 192 students from 32 public schools.

Halfway through the four-round battle, it looked like a three-way tie between the Dolphins, the Unlucky Readers and the Flaming Books (the students got to pick their own team names, elect captains and draw team signs as part of their warm-up activities), but the Lucky Ligers managed to pull it off in the final heat. Winning team members included Olivia Cusimano from Cold Spring School; Chris Estrada, Aliso School; Grace Fowler, Patterson Road School; Daniel Gosenberg, Olive Grove Charter School; Celeste Orlosky, Monte Vista School; and Annie Thwing, Vieja Valley School.

“More than just another competition, Battle of the Books is a great reading incentive program,” said county schools Superintendent Bill Cirone.

That wasn’t the only incentive, students were also awarded certificates, pins, books, book bags and, for the winning team – T-shirts that said “most extreme reader.”

Win or lose, for most of the kids it was all about having a good time.

“I did it last year and I’m back again because it was fun,” said Katie Spieler, a student from Hope School.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on April 21, 2005.