Students eclipse lofty reading challenge

By Karl Vilacoba
Staff Writer

After reading over 10,180 books in one year, you might say the students of Herbertsville Elementary School became the living embodiment of a classic children’s story: The Little Engine That Could.

The smallest school in Brick, at only 292 students, exceeded its annual reading goal by 2,814 books. To accomplish this feat, each student in Herbertsville Elementary had to read an average of 44.5 books over the school year.

Mayor Joseph Scarpelli set the target of this year’s Reading Rally program at 10,180 books. The total matches that of a Guinness Book of World Records entry for the largest group ever to participate in a YMCA dance, which was once set at Brick’s Windward Beach Park during a SummerFest event.

Scarpelli’s challenge far exceeded any reading goal the school has attempted before. Past goals for the annual Reading Rally were 2,000, 3,000 and 6,000 books.

"Your parents and teachers were probably saying, ‘Wow, that mayor has a big mouth — 10,180, that’s a lot of books,’" Scarpelli told the students during a June 18 assembly. "Frankly, it was a goal I wasn’t sure you were going to reach. But boy, you made me proud."

"He apologized to me every time I saw him, and I would say, ‘Are you kidding? I think we could reach 50,000,’ " Principal Alyce Anderson said.

Anderson kept the suspense going, telling the assembly she wasn’t sure whether or not they had pulled it off. But the group of first- through fifth-graders found out when Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Seidenberger yanked the cover off a thermometer diagram that was bursting from its top, which was set at the 10,000 mark.

"You’re not going to believe it. Herbertsville Elementary, this small school of 300 children, read 12,994 books!" Anderson exclaimed, to the wild applause of the students.

Scarpelli proclaimed June 18-20 on Brick’s calendar in honor of the students’ achievement. Gov. James McGreevey also sent a letter of congratulations to the school.

Anderson and the faculty of Herbertsville Elementary were garbed in construction worker uniforms in keeping with this year’s title for the program, "Reading Builds Learners." The theme was chosen in light of recently completed construction at the school, originally approved by voters in a 2001 referendum.

Anderson promised to read a book from the roof of the addition to the students below if they met their goal, but the inclement weather of the day was cause for a rain check.

Teachers tracked the students’ reading progress with forms that required entries for each book’s title, a brief synopsis and a parent’s signature. Reading goals were set for the students of each class, ranging from 50 books for first graders to 10 books for fifth graders. First-grade student Alyssa Richardson read 468 books alone, the highest total by any participant in the school.

But more important than the sheer vol­ume of books read, is the fact that 100 percent of the school’s students partici­pated, Anderson said.

"There’s a lesson to learn here. Could one person achieve this goal? No. We had to do it together," Anderson said.

Scarpelli deferred to Seidenberger on setting next year’s goal. The superinten­dent said he would return in September and decide on a new target with the stu­dents, but pledged the help of the staff in achieving it. Next year, teachers and ad­ministrators at Herbertsville Elementary will also read books, and they will count toward the school’s total, he said.

"Never, ever stop reading. It doesn’t cost anything, and the benefits are won­derful," Seidenberger said.