Joliet Public Schools District 86 recently launched the second year of a district-wide Joliet Reads “One District, One Book” reading campaign for all elementary school-aged students. All Joliet Public Schools District 86 preschool and elementary students received their own copy of the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Books were available in both English and Spanish.
The students also received a bookmark with a daily reading schedule and a QR code with a link to videos of District 86 employees, community members, and school board members reading chapters of the book. Community members included Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, Joliet Police Department Officer Church Mascolino, and Joliet District 86 Board of School Inspectors Matthew Pritz, Jesse Smith, and Delia Ulloa-Jimenez.
“We are thrilled to continue to this district-wide reading event,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse. “Thank you to our community partners who helped read chapters this year.”
“Anytime we get students excited to read is a win.” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Ankhe Bradley added.
Over the next few weeks, schools will host special activities with trivia questions to engage students and encourage daily reading of the book with their families. Similar activities took place in December with District 86 junior high students. Each Dirksen, Gompers, Hufford, and Washington Junior High student received the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio to read at home.