LYNN — Harrington Elementary students spent Wednesday morning hitting the books for their Reads Day. Community members, teachers, and Mayor Jared C. Nicholson filed into the school to read to the students.
Students and teachers dressed as some of their favorite characters to help make the day even more fun.
Nicholson sat with a group of second graders who listened to him read “¡Esperar no es fácil!” (Waiting Is Not Easy!) The story is about Gerald and Piggie, two best friends. Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but Gerald must be patient and wait for the surprise.
After completing the story, Nicholson thanked the students for letting him come read to them.
“We’re proud of all of you. We are so excited that you are doing what you’re doing here at Harrington, and we can’t wait to see what you do in the years ahead. The City of Lynn and the Lynn Public Schools — we’re here for you and we wish you the very best,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson spoke to the students in Spanish as well, to tell them how proud he was of their work.
A first grade class also got to hear the tales of the two best friends, with teachers Sarah Doughty and Susannah Warden dressing the part as well. Doughty dressed as Piggie and Ward dressed as Gerald. The two played their roles perfectly, putting on voices as they read. The students enjoyed “I Really Like Slop!” so much that they asked for the pair to read them one more book.
The two put on another great performance, this time stretching their acting abilities by also playing Snake and Brian Bat.
After the second story, students wanted to continue reading, jumping at the chance to continue the “Elephant and Piggie” series.
Another class of first graders listened intently to “The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!” with each student wearing a headband with Pigeon on it.
The story was read by Stephen Basden, who works for the Special Olympics and is a Lynn Public Schools alumnus.
Basden had the students read with him as he asked them questions about Pigeon. “The Pigeon has to go to school!” all of the students yelled along with him.
At the end of the book, Basden stood up from his seat, asking the students to stand with him and flap their wings like a pigeon.
“Alright, you guys, let’s stand up. Stand up, stand up, we gotta practice our pigeon flying. Give each other some space. Let’s put our pigeon wings out. Everybody listen up, this is very important. Pigeons do not flap aggressively, right? A pigeon is elegant… Up and down, you gotta bend your wrists!” Basden said.
Students got a kick out of the “flying lesson,” laughing along as they flapped their “wings” and bent their knees.
