Stop Drop and Read Wheeling High School Kicks Off New Reading Initiative

         Wheeling High School is on a mission to reach 1,000,000 reading minutes by May 30. The school kicked off a new building-wide reading initiative on May 1 that has everyone in the school reading at the same time. Students, faculty, and staff simultaneously read 10 minutes each day as part of the “Stop, Drop, and Read” initiative.

            “Our goal for this initiative is three-fold,” said English and Fine Arts Division Head Megan Knight. “We hope to foster a culture of reading, provide students with an opportunity to read for enjoyment, and create a common experience for students, faculty, and staff that adds to the academic culture of our school.”

            The quest to reach 1,000,000 minutes of reading begins after the morning announcements when the entire building is prompted to “Stop, Drop, and Read” a book, magazine, or newspaper for 10 minutes. Paper texts as well as digital devices, such as Smartphones, iPads, Kindles, and Nooks, are both acceptable. Everyone is encouraged to have reading material available but supplemental reading material is provided, if needed. 

            Wheeling High School also has partnered with the Indian Trails Public Library District to help purchase a summer reading book for every Wheeling High School student, including incoming freshmen. By the end of May, every student will receive a free copy of their summer reading book, which is provided by the library and high school. A multi-day book distribution event will be held once the books arrive, and Indian Trails teen librarian Sarah Heimsoth will participate at the high school and middle schools by accompanying Wheeling faculty and staff when they deliver the summer reading books by the end of the month. 

            “The library loves working with community partners, especially when we can collaborate to support education and reading,” said Heimsoth. “Having books in the home is so important for boosting literacy and preventing loss of reading skills over the summer. We have worked with Wheeling High School on several different initiatives during the past several years, and Indian Trails is excited to have the opportunity to provide books to so many students.”

            The high school’s Transition Language Arts students will be taken to the library during both summer school sessions to participate in summer reading book discussions with library staff and Wheeling faculty and staff.

            “Due to the generosity of the Indian Trails Public Library District, we are giving all students an opportunity to get a head start on summer reading before school is out,” said Knight. “We believe our efforts will continue to foster a culture of reading within our student body.”