Making a Splash at Virginia Public Library
By Dawn Heisel
HTF Contributor
VIRGINIA - This summer more than 470 children participated in Virginia Public Library’s “Make a Splash” summer reading program. These children were part of a whopping total of 736 children who also participated in the St. Louis County Fair Reading Program, the Teen Program, and Reading with Chia.
In addition to the busy reading program, participation in the Thursday Funday programs at the library almost doubled. During the summer, children watched a professional puppet show, conversed with a prolific author/illustrator, saw raptors up close and personal, learned how to create magic and tie balloons at a magic workshop, participated in the great Lego challenge, witnessed a man juggling fire 12 feet in the air, hunted for treasure, touched ocean creatures, and had a splashing good time at the “Make a Splash Bash.”
Each Friday, Chia, the “Tail Waggin’ Tutor” padded in to provide a “pawsitive” reading experience through the R.E.A.D. program. Tuesdays were officially designated as Craftastic Tuesdays and children dropped in for fun make ‘n’ take activities each week. At each of these sessions, members of the Friends of the Library were present to make sure the children had a great time.
2010 was also another year of cooperative ventures. With the support of the Virginia School District, and the local parents’ and teachers’ organizations, students from both Parkview and Roosevelt were presented with a reading challenge. As incentive, all children who met their summer reading goals will receive a coupon for $5.00 at the school book fair and will also participate in a special school activity in the Fall. This annual project is a creative community effort that stresses the importance of summer reading and helps decrease the effects of summer slide for our local students.
We are so fortunate to be part of a community that values reading. As part of this effort, local community members are encouraged to provide their own acknowledgement and support for the following children who reached their reading goals: Alexa Aagenes,Gabe Aagenes, Hailey Aagenes, Noah Aagenes, Mickaela Adams, Angelina Allen,Dallan Anderson, Jake Anderson, Korina Anderson, Sarah Andrick, Logan Angrove, Rian Aune, Annie Bachschneider, Holly Bachschneider, Isabelle Baggentoss, Tanner Banks, Kate Barnes, Dylan Bartlett, Alexis Bennett, Hailey Bennett, Gavin Benz, Grant Benz, Sylvie Bergum, Jayden Bernard, Chesney Bernard, Samuel Beukema, Andrew Bird, Milo Bristol, Owen Buggert, Will Buggert, Rebecca Busick, Cooper Carlson, Sam Carlson, Paige Chadwick, Grant Clark, Logan Clark, Mia Cope-Robinson, Sydney Cope- Robinson, Alyssa Crettol, Ben Crettol, Caden Croft, Connor Croft, Ava Dahl, Gavin Dahl, Bekah Davidson, Sarah Davidson, Danika Dertinger, Morgan Dertenger, Klara DeVries, Makenzie Ditzler, Marta Ditzler, Aiden Elko, Gabi Elliott, Jack Elliott, Parker Elliott, Beckett Engel, Carson Engel, Owen Engel, Abby Engrav, Alex Engrav, Cody Fallstrom, Dillon Fallstrom, Ethan Fallstrom, Aliyah Finch, Arabella Finch, Allison Fink, Anna Fink, Ava Fink, Willie Flaim, Dawson Flatley, Isaac Flatley, Sophia Flatley, Brooklyn Fleischman, Ian Fleischman, Mason Fleischman, Elijah Foster, Rachel Gasperlin, Joe Gasperlin, Eric Gatewood, Briana Gauthier, Tyler Givens, Tanner Golden, Ben Gornik, Ian Gornik, Taia Grishaber, Tyler Gucinski, Brandon Gulbranson, Ellie Gulbranson, Christine Hafdahl, Joseph Hafdahl, Lily Hall, Owen Hallin, Sawyer Hallin, Morgan Hambly, Kaari Harsila, Wade Harsila, Gianna Hart, Austin Harvey, Bethany Harvey, Morgan Harvey, Seth Hauber, Ethan Hillman, Maddie Hillman, Kayla Hippolt, Elise Hoard, Brent Hoechst, Beau Hohenstein, Drew Hohenstein, Chris Hollis, Andrew Horvat, Aiden Hume, Lauren Hummel, Riley Hummel, Alyssa Isaacson, Syndney Isaacson, Rylan Jesme, Andrew Johnson, Clark Johnson, Dylan Johnson, Jordyn Johnson, Leo Johnson, Logan Johnson, Arayna Jones, Casey Jones, Parker Jones, Aiden Jowers, Paige Jowers, Cloie Jue, Dylan Jurenic, Ben Kalinowski, Grace Kennington, Bill Keute, Loyal Kimmer, Rush Kimmer, Megan Kingston, Ali Kingsley, Alexis Kishel, Korissa Kishel, Caleb Klander, Sammie Klander, Madi Klima, Gabe Kochevar, Ethan Koski, Jonas Koski, Mariah Koski, Matti Koski, Miles Koski, Russell Koski, Wyatt Koski, Abby Kosta, Noah Kosta, Becca Kowalski, Steph Kowalski, Abby Kramer, Kelsey Kramer, Tristan Kuoppala, Carissa Kurtti, Abbi Lamppa, Arik Lamppa, Crystal Larson, Brielle Lindgren, Julia Lindseth, Landyn Lindula, Dani Logan, Carter Logan, Harrison Logan, Billy Long, Christina Louks, Marian Louks, Paige Maki, Callie Mauston, Ailie McCarthy, Emily McCarthy, Jacob McCarthy, Mikayla Mellesmoen, Alaina Michals, Olivia Michals, Mackenzy Micklich, Angel Moore, Charley Rose Morrison, Kristi Renee Morrison, Caleece Myhre, Jake Neari, Gavin Nelson, Josie Nemanich, Thomas Nemanich, Tony Nemanich, Zac Norberg, Sophia Norha, Holly Norha, Nick Olson, Kylee Osborne, Morgan Osborne, Juliana Pauling, Madison Pauling, Jack Perala, Chelsea Peterson, Jaynee Peterson, Maggie Peterson, Mailee Peterson, Ben Pettinelli, Brady Pettinelli, Carter Piersing, Hudson Pietrini, Grant Phillips, Kavan Plesha, Kolton Plesha, Morgan Plesha, Jordan Podpeskar, Ethan Pond, Janie Potts, Madeline Potts, Chace Powell, Jason Prokosch, Alex Adams-Ranta, Azaelea Ray, Grace Redmond, Kaylynn Richards, Eva Roark, Sophie Roark, Tianna Robinson, Emmy Rogers, Korbin Ronchetti, Julianna Ross, Nicole Roy, Dawson Ruedebusch, Keegan Ruedebusch, McKenzie Ruedebusch, Janelle Saranen, Kirsti Saranen, Hali Savela, Macy Savela, Madelyn Schefers, Katie Scherf, Ryan Scherf, Ava Seppala, Alli Seppala, Bo Seppala, Brady Seppala, Rollie Seppala, Wyatt Setterstom, Kylia Shaleen, Zander Sislo, Mary Skorich, Kylia Shaleen, Mary Skorich, Chloe Smith, Isabella Smith, Jacie Smith, Aidyn Softich, Sydney Spelts, Nathan Spiering, Aaron Spry, Adam Spry, Anthony Starkey, Joshua Stickney, Rocco Stoehr-Zadra, Leif Sundquist, Miko Sundquist, Nolan Svatos, Felicia Sweeney, Brock Today, Elexus Today, Hadassah Triestman, Isaac Triestman, Lexi Trygg, Miigqen Tuchel, Tiquin Tuchel, Eric Venier, Sarah Voss, Ava Warren, Will Warren, Ellie Wiermaa, Leah Wierimaa, Eric Wildes, Cassie Williams-Klem, Ian Williams, Jada Williams, Kristin Williams, Kyle Williams, Larissa Williams, Maxwell Williams, Logan Winger, Marley Wynne, Aviana Yankey, Keira Yankey, Jillian Ziedler, Vienna Ziedler, Jack Zupetz.
Please give these children a pat on the back and remember that reading is good for everyone, no matter what your age.
