Merrick School District

Chatterton welcomed community members into its classrooms for a successful Community Read Aloud event on Jan. 23.  

Guest readers, including local business owners, elected officials, school administrators, and family members, visited each classroom to share a story and a love of reading with students.  

The event was also coordinated by the school’s reading staff, whose efforts helped ensure a meaningful and engaging experience for students and guests alike. 

The event was held as part of the PTA-sponsored Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program and began with a welcome breakfast for participating readers. Guests were then assigned to classrooms throughout the building, where they read books aligned with the schoolwide theme, “Reading Is Monstrously Awesome.” 

Before heading to classrooms, Principal Dana Bermas encouraged guest readers to share how reading has played a role in their personal and professional journeys and helped them become active members of the community. 

The Community Read Aloud was the culmination of several weeks of literacy-focused activities for students, including author visits, spirit wear days, bingo for books, a book fair, and a hands-on project where students created their own monster-themed stuffed reading buddies – all of which were organized by members of the PTA’s PARP Committee, along with Chatterton staff member Donna Dimino. 

The event celebrated the joy of reading while strengthening connections between students, schools, and the wider community.