St. Joseph School
courtesy of Darryl Schmitz
Public officials, educational professionals and sports figures teamed up to promote reading skills at St. Joseph School’s “Family Reading Night” on March 1st. State Representative Paul Opsommer read author Susan Collins Thoms’ “The 12 Days of Christmas in Michigan” at the center of the school gymnasium.
Around the gym’s perimeter were 12 stations, each of them which featured the reading of a story about a topic native to the state of Michigan.
Members of the MSU varsity football team read a story about the Model T automobile.
At the first station was “Pine Tree and Robin”, read by Kathy Donahue, followed at the next station by “Model T Cars” (read by members of the Michigan State University football team).
“Lighthouse Ghost Stories” was read by principal Tomi Ann Schultheiss), “Hockey Sticks” (a member of local resident and Northwood University head coach Doug Carter’s varsity soccer team).
“Frozen Lakes” (teacher Dorella Page-Hunter and two St. Johns High School students), “Galloping Horses” (professional storyteller Steveanna Roose), “Upper Peninsula Miners” (Katie Robinson from Sleepy Hollow State Park ).
“Winter Outdoor Charades” was read by members of the MSU track and cross country teams), “Sandy Dunes” (librarian Stephanie Padgett), “Jugs of Cider” (Dede and Mike Beck of Uncle John’s Cider Mill), “Holland” (local resident Ethel Mapes) and “Cherry Sundaes” (Carla Wardin).
The school’s parent-school council organized and sponsored the event, contacted the reader volunteers and coordinated the parents’ and teachers’ participation.
Committee chair Karla Palmer estimated there were over 100 parents and children attending the event. She added, “It was all made possible by the generous participation of our volunteers, parents and teachers to promote the importance of reading for both enjoyment and to become better informed.”
State Representative Paul Opsommer reads “The 12 Days of Christmas in Michigan”.