Media release from Rome, GA City Schools:
A kindergarten class at Main Elementary heard all about Zara the Zebra. Another class puzzled over why a pumpkin was blue. And another wondered how a seed managed to grow so big.
As guest readers opened books for kindergarten classes in all of Rome City Schools’ elementary schools on Friday, October 31, students had a chance to see literacy quite literally come to life.
Reading to students is nothing new, but Rome City Schools’ Read Across Rome program aims to make sure students continue to read, hear from guest readers, and find their imagination, curiosity, and love for reading sparked.
Read Across Rome is designed to connect community, classrooms, and culture — one story at a time. Each month, guest readers will visit a different grade level at all elementary schools across the district. The goal is simple yet powerful — to show students that reading is not just something we do in school, but a skill and a joy that extends into every part of life.
On Friday, October 31, kindergartners throughout the district not only celebrated Halloween but also had the opportunity to hear stories from guest readers. In November, first-grade classes will welcome guest readers, and in December, second graders will enjoy the same experience.
This effort is part of Rome City Schools’Literacy Before Life for Life initiative. The movement not only reaches students in classrooms but also extends into the community. Books have been placed in local barbershops, beauty salons, and doctors’ offices — encouraging children to see reading as part of everyday life.
“Literacy Before Life for Lifeis more than a program; it is a movement,” Rome City Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said. “When students have guest readers come into the classroom, those readers ignite students’ curiosity and passion for reading and learning.”
Through Read Across Rome, Rome City Schools hopes to continue building a community that celebrates and supports literacy — where every child has the opportunity to see themselves as a reader, every family has access to books, and every corner of Rome echoes with the joy of a good story.