Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as “Dr. Seuss,” was an American writer, cartoonist, animator, book publisher, and artist best known for authoring children’s books.
Dr. Seuss took along young and old alike into his whimsical storybook adventures. His birthday, March 2nd, is a significant day; and is now celebrated as the ‘Read Across America Day.’
This day of reading is literally exploding at Lomond View Elementary School! Librarian, Virginia Miller, who has a boundless amount of energy and talent, organizes a celebration in honor of Dr. Seuss’s legacy each year.
Miller comes up with a yearly theme; and, for 2017 it was: “Hats off to Dr. Seuss,” with a Western theme for the entire school. Even the doors to the library are made to look like you’re entering a saloon.
“Hats off to Dr. Seuss—Hats off for reading! The kids made a hat for Dr. Seuss. He had hundreds of hats. He would take them out and put a funny hat on to get funny ideas. The gist of this was for all 615 kids to create a funny hat for Dr. Seuss if he were still alive,” Miller says.
Students in 3rd-6th grade were also eligible to enter a special cake contest in honor of Dr. Seuss. The contest was divided into 2 categories: Real cake and other. The other category included creations made of Legos, Styrofoam, or boxes—all to resemble something about Dr. Seuss’s stories. These cakes were amazing!
There was so much creativity involved and no two cakes were a like. All 42 of them so unique and colorful—just like Dr. Seuss himself!
Of course, there had to be judges who could help pick the grand prize winners. What a tough job! Pete Miller, JoAnne McGuire, and Noreen Pugmire, were all chosen to judge the cakes to the best of their ability.
Leading up to this day, Miller said, “I taught the students all about Dr. Seuss. We focused on The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins and The Cat in the Hat. I did a power point to teach about his life, his first wife and where his father worked. All month long we’ve built up for ‘Read Across America Day’.”
Ogden rodeo queens came and participated on March 2nd, along with the Weber County Sheriff’s Posse, Pleasant View City Mayor, Toby Mileski, and the Council members. Also, the Weber School District Superintendent came and read to the children.
Each child received an ice-cream sandwich after lunch and some students even dressed up as Dr. Seuss characters. A darling group of 3rd grade girls went all out and became “Thing 1 and Thing 2” while another wore the famous red striped hat. They were certainly eager to show off their fanciful, quizzical hair and costumes—all smiles for a picture!
Student storytellers, from Lomond View, who recently shared their stories at the Story Telling Festival in February went into all the classes to share their stories. Volunteer readers, such as Mother Goose, came to visit the kindergarten class as well. There was something for everyone!
Cowboy poetry and more storytelling took place for small groups in the gym. This is a day you can’t help but want to be a part of things at Lomond View Elementary!
And in the long hallway there are class pictures made to look old fashioned and worn—set back in the old Western Days-- with the words: “WANTED” on the front. “Readers Wanted,” and included the number of minutes each class had read.
“The goal for the end of the year”, according to Miller, “Is to get to 3 million minutes as a school.”
Miller says her favorite part about the entire experience with “Read Across America Day” is, “I love when I put up the Dr. Seuss things and I love how there’s discussion between the students and their peers about reading. It’s part of them and becomes a good memory.”
