Superintendent Amy Peterman has been actively encouraging students in the Ceres Unified School District to read more through her Superintendent’s Book Club. Since its launch last year, the program has seen significant participation, with students reading and reviewing 6,562 books so far this school year. December’s numbers are still being counted.
Peterman visited Caswell Elementary on December 15 to read “Pig the Elf,” a holiday-themed sequel to “Pig the Pug,” to students. She emphasized her lifelong passion for reading and her desire to share that enthusiasm with students. “I’ve been an avid reader my whole life. … I knew that I wanted to convey to our students and help them value reading. The love of reading,” Peterman said. “I knew I wanted it to be something easy, they don’t have to pass a test. They don’t have to show evidence other than just read a book, turn in a review and get prizes.”
The CUSD Reads program runs from October through March and encourages children across grade levels to participate by reading books and submitting short reviews for small rewards such as stickers or water bottles. Top readers at each school receive a Kindle at the end of the program.
Last year’s winner was Gibran Rodriguez Roman, then a third-grader at Caswell Elementary Dual Language Academy. He described his surprise at winning: “When they called out my name, I was surprised. I mean, I didn’t know I could do it because when I turned in my report, I think it was my last report to them, I remember other of my partners in fourth grade also started to turn in a lot of them,” Rodriguez Roman said. “But when they entered into my classroom, I remember it was in third grade, and they said ‘Gibran Rodriguez Roman,’ I was like, how did I did it?”
Rodriguez Roman explained why he enjoys reading: “I like reading because it’s simple. You just read and … imagine you’re in the story, imagine you’re the main character, imagine that you’re somebody,” he said. “It feels great to read because it makes you learn more, know more and also think more.”
Most elementary and middle school students take part in the club; high schoolers are also eligible. At Caswell Elementary—which offers dual language education—students can choose books in English or Spanish and write their reviews in either language.
During Peterman’s visit for the holiday read-aloud event, fifth-grader Melany Alvarez shared her review of “Memoirs of an Elf.” She gave it high praise: “I like it because it’s about Christmas and my favorite holiday is Christmas because you can get a lot of presents and you can get to celebrate with family and you get to go places with your family everywhere,” Alvarez said.
Students are encouraged not only to read independently but also aloud or by listening—all contributing toward both district-wide goals for increased reading as well as individual incentives.
