LITERARY CHARACTER DAY AT JEAN CALLISON
Callison Elementary School in Vacaville celebrated the 25th annual Read Across America Week, which began on Dr. Seuss' birthday, with themed days.
Friday was Literary Character Day and participants from across the city — including public safety officers, Air Force personnel, local leaders and community members — volunteered to read to the students, some dressed as their favorite book characters.
The aim: to teach them about the importance reading has in their careers.
“We want our kids to see themselves in these professions,” said Callison Elementary principal Jessica Reed. “The idea is early exposure. We want them to understand how to get there, which starts in elementary school with reading and writing. I always ask the kids to name one profession that does not require knowing how to read. If we want them becoming the mayor or superintendent, we have to plant the seed now.”
Vacaville Mayor John Carli visited Cherie Greenlee's second grade classroom.
“Are you the mayor of Vacaville?” shouted one student as Carli walked in the door. “I live in Vacaville!”
Carli read them the book “Taxi Driver! Dashing Around New York City” by Robyn Brode.
After reading the book, Carli explained all the ways he uses reading in his role as mayor.
He also mentioned that he had to read a lot when he was Vacaville Chief of Police. When the students learned of Carli's previous role, audible gasps erupted.
Carli gave the book to one of the students to take home and even offered to sign it for her, to her squealing delight.
Over in Megan Coxe's third grade classroom, VUSD Superintendent Jane Shamieh read aloud the book “Courage” by Bernard Weber.
Shamieh told the children a story of when she had to
be courageous while in a high dive swimming class in college.
A line from the book read, “Courage is saving one candy bar for tomorrow.”
“That's so hard!” yelled one of the students.
After finishing the story, Shamieh gave the book to a birthday girl in the classroom as a keepsake for her to take home.
The school then gathered in the cafeteria for an assembly with former NFL linebacker Desmond Bishop.
Bishop is a Fairfield High and Cal Berkeley alum. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and the team now known as the Washington Commanders.
He told the students he won a Super Bowl in 2011 with the Packers, which left them flabbergasted.
Bishop explained how important reading is in football with the use of playbooks.
“One of my teammates got in trouble,” said Bishop. “Our coaches would tape a $100 bill on the last page of the playbook. The $100 bill was to be returned to our head coach once you were done reading. It was there to make sure you read all the way through. After a month or two, he still hadn't returned the bill.”
No matter what these children decide to do in their futures, the hope is they now understand how fundamental reading truly is.