Paper Bricks Help Build a Love for Books in Young Readers

PASS THE BOOKS, PLEASE: Kindergarten through fifth-grade students transformed the Torrance Elementary School cafeteria into a medieval castle last week as part of the school’s third annual Read-a-Thon. The castle was constructed of paper bricks representing books read and stones bearing the names of each student reader.

According to education coordinator Lorna Rice, 302 students participated in the program, which was sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher Assn. The students read a total of 7,243 books.

Rice said there was not enough wall space for all 7,243 bricks, but 302 construction paper stones bearing the names of readers were proudly displayed.

The grand prize winner, fifth-grader Clara Yu, earned 8,690 points for reading 67 fairly thick books. Points were given per book and page. Third-grader Kerri Jackson was recognized for reading the most books--87, for a total of 5,197 points.

The students began reading when school began Jan. 4. They were given lists of books to read and forms for their parents to sign as they were completed. Younger students were given credit for books that their parents or siblings read to them.

At an assembly to celebrate the end of the program, storyteller Mark Lewis entertained those who participated in the Read-a-Thon. The 10 top readers from each grade level participated in a sleep-over Friday night in the castle, where they played medieval games like the fox and goose (similar to checkers,) labyrinth (a maze game) and chess.

They ended the evening watching films of “Robin Hood,” “The Prince and the Pauper,” and “The Sword in the Stone” while enjoying a Renaissance feast of . . . popcorn and pizza.

JOB TRAINING: Thirty at-risk high school students are participating in a youth employment and training program sponsored by the Carson/Lomita/Torrance Private Industry Council.

The students, who are between 16 and 21 years old, attend year-round high schools in the South Bay area, said Fawn Mayer, program assistant for the council. They are from Narbonne High School in Harbor City, Carson High School, Gardena High School, Banning High School in Wilmington, and Eagle Tree Continuation School and Stephen White Junior High School in Carson.

The students are paid $4.25 an hour for four hours of work every day at local schools, parks and a hospital. They spend three hours studying English and math in the afternoon. One hour a week is devoted to pre-employment training like resume writing and tips for professional behavior.

YOUNG LEADER: Cemal Knight, a junior at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, will be among 350 high school students to attend the weeklong National Youth Leadership Forum on Security and Defense.

Knight, a cadet in the California Civil Air Patrol, was selected for his high grades and for his interest in a career in military affairs. The 17-year-old would like to graduate from the Air Force Academy and eventually work for the Department of Defense.

Knight said that attending the conference Feb. 2 to 7 in Washington will help him achieve his goal.

“I believe it will be educational and motivating for me because it will be a steppingstone toward my career,” he said.

AND NOW THIS: Lowell Winston, principal of Monroe Junior High School in Inglewood, has been named assistant superintendent in charge of educational services, a post that has been vacant since last spring. A replacement for Winston at Monroe has not been named.

Vivian Spiglanin, first-grade teacher at Beryl Heights Elementary School, was selected by the Redondo Beach Jaycees as an Outstanding Young Educator of the year.

Items for the weekly Class Notes column can be mailed to The Times South Bay office, 23133 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance 90505, or faxed to (310) 373-5753 to the attention of staff reporter Lorna Fernandes.