Reading Has Its Rewards at Lassen

As a reward for improving their Stanford 9 test scores, students from Lassen Elementary School in North Hills were treated Monday to a visit by the Readapalooza traveling stage show sponsored by the state Department of Education.

About 750 students gathered for the outdoor assembly, which featured a two-story inflatable open book, audience games (such as the Regis Philbin-inspired “Who Wants to Win a Million Words”) and rocking out to rap songs led by Readapalooza characters.

“I think this will make the kids want to go to the library more,” Principal Thomas Kutras said. “[Readapalooza] got them all excited about reading . . . and made it seem like reading was cool.”

Since October, Readapalooza--named after the traveling rock tour Lollapalooza--has performed in more than 40 California cities, at elementary schools including Harding Street Elementary in Sylmar. Schools on the tour were selected as a reward for improved standardized test scores.

And Monday was Lassen’s turn.

Students there improved their reading scores by 5 to 8 points, often outpacing the overall Los Angeles Unified School District’s 6% gain, district spokeswoman Hilda Ramirez said.

The school’s improvement, according to Kutras, can be attributed to more collaboration by teachers on lesson plans and ensuring that material on the Stanford 9 test is covered in class.

This is the second year of the Readapalooza tour, which is part of the READ California program enacted by the Legislature in 1999 to encourage children and their parents to make reading a top priority.

KUDOS

Key Holder: Cal State Northridge student Joseph Jeiby Manuel Benavides of Reseda is among 350 CSUN students to be inducted this year into the Golden Key National Honor Society.

The recognition means that Benavides and his fellow students ranked among the top 15% in academics among juniors and seniors across the country.

Based in Atlanta, the Golden Key National Honor Society will induct an estimated 100,000 new members this academic year from its 305 chapters worldwide.

Bulldog Band: The Bulldog Marching Band and Pageantry of Burbank High School earned four trophies Saturday at the Antelope Valley Band Review in Lancaster.

The band took overall first place in its division for a second consecutive year, and drum major Scott Rauenswinder won first place in the drum major category for his baton type. The Auxiliary squad, which performs with banners and tall flags, also took first place, and the school’s drill team, which performs hand and dance routines, won third place.

PROGRAM NOTES

Breaking Ground: After five years of wishing, St. Mel Elementary School in Woodland Hills will break ground Sunday on an adjacent lot for a preschool.

The $1.4-million project is expected to be completed in time for school in September.

The preschool is expected to enroll 60 children its first year and 120 children thereafter.

Flippers Needed: Calling avid readers in fourth, fifth and sixth grades!

Twelve students will be chosen from across the state to serve as ambassadors to encourage reading among their peers, serve as critics who will read and review books for the READ California Web site, and work on community service projects. Applications, which are due Tuesday, are available on the READ California Web site at https://www.readcalifornia.org.

Class Notes appears every Wednesday. Send news about schools to the Valley Edition, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax it to (818) 772-3338.