The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Sycamore Trails again wins reading challenge

By Seth Hancock
  For the second straight year, Bartlett’s Sycamore Trails Elementary School was one of two winners in the Summer Reading Challenge for elementary students in School District U-46.
  Last year, Sycamore Trails was the most improved participant and this year they had the most participants district-wide. Elgin’s Otter Creek Elementary School was the most improved this year.
  “We are proud of all the summer reading challenge finishers and participants,” said Ruth Mielke, Bartlett Public Library’s youth and teen services manager, in a U-46 press release. “The enthusiasm and support the students received from their principal and staff is truly incredible and we hope they will continue reading through the school year.”
  Students across the district were able to take part at various libraries within the district which has teachers reading with students every Monday through June and July. According to the district press release, 3,072 students completed the challenge in the district and over 140,000 youth books and movies were checked out during the time from Elgin’s Gail Borden Library District.
  Sycamore Trails had about 25 percent, over 130, of its students complete the challenge which was 17 percent higher from the previous year according to the district.
  “We know this is a team effort and we’re proud of our staff for working with students throughout the summer, of our families for encouraging their children to read and proud of the collaboration with our colleagues at public libraries across our district,” U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said in the release. “We couldn’t celebrate these accomplishments without all of these groups working together to support our students.”
  Both Sycamore Trails and Otter Creek received trophies and were recognized by the Board of Education at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 11.
  “It truly is a collaborative project from the moms and dads that take their students, their children, to the library each week, to the staff members who work extra to be at the library and read with the children, to our wonderful library partners who support this program,” said Mary Fergus, director of school and community relations.

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