Local "Reading Olympics" Challenge Kids to Read More Books

Students in Sonoma and Marin counties have an opportunity to go for the gold by reading the most books in a two-month period Spring 2006 during the Sonoma-Marin Fair Reading Olympics.

Petaluma, CA (PRWEB) March 31, 2006 -- Students of Sonoma and Marin Counties, take your mark! The Reading Olympics sponsored by the Sonoma-Marin Fair start this week and will determine the top student readers in Sonoma and Marin counties. The competition will award gold, silver, and bronze honors to the students Kindergarten through 12th grade who read the most books during April and May.

Awards will go to the best individual for each grade level, the best classroom for every grade level, and the best school in each of the following categories: elementary through 6th grade, elementary through 8th grade, middle school/junior high school and high school. Winners will be determined by the ratio of books read to number of students so every classroom and every school has a chance to win—even the small ones. Homeschoolers may enter the individual categories.

In addition to the honor of being the most prolific readers in two counties, Gold Medal Winners receive complimentary tickets to the Sonoma-Marin Fair which takes place at the Petaluma Fairgrounds June 21 through 25. That could amount to a lot of tickets, but said Fair Manager Tawny Tesconi, “It’s for a great cause! Reading!”

The Reading Olympics are also being sponsored by the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE), and Sonoma Family-Life Magazine, La Voz Bilingual Newspaper and Hot 98.7 Radio.

“I commend the Sonoma-Marin Fair for organizing the Reading Olympics,” said Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Carl Wong. “What an honor it will be for students to earn special recognition for reading the most books! I encourage all students and all classrooms to participate by reading, reading, reading, and then reading some more.”

Hot 98.7 will offer updates every Wednesday throughout the eight weeks of the competition. Students are encouraged to listen in to see how they are doing. Sonoma Family-Life Magazine and La Voz will feature stories about the competition in their April and May issues. They will also help announce the winners. Winners will be announced June 7th and their names included in the Official Sonoma-Marin Fair Program distributed to nearly 200,000 people throughout the two counties.

Materials have been distributed to teachers through SCOE and MCOE. Interested teachers and students also may call the Sonoma-Marin Fair at 707-283-FAIR (3247) or visit www.yourfair.org to receive the materials which include instructions and deadlines for the Reading Olympics, a tally sheet and student reading logs.

# # #