The Pilot News - Culver Elementary readers celebrate success with ice cream

VanDePutte noted that the new program is not cumulative, which allows student readers to attain reading goals in later grading periods, even if they missed those goals earlier in the year. The program also offers more frequent rewards for readers, such as the ice cream party, rather than forcing younger students to wait all year for the end-of-year reward, a stretch that can often lose the attention of students.
VanDePutte noted that each grade level sets its own reading criteria, but that her job involved creating themes for each nine weeks: Mystery Madness took place earlier this year, January Chillout culminated in the ice cream party, and the third grading period will be marked by a Rain Forest theme, which will also involve nature expert Rick Glassman’s visit to the school on March 14. A “Literacy Luau” will wrap things up just before the end of the school year. VanDePutte noted that the school had 335 students eligible for the ice cream party, out of the school population of around 500. “So our numbers are good,” she said, also noting that CES principal Chuck Kitchell has been “very supportive” of the program.
She also noted that Culver’s Tri Kappa donates to the program each year, adding to the Parent-Teacher Organization funds that offset the cost of the program. “Tri Kappa always donated ice cream toppings to us; it’s one of the things they do in their January meeting,” VanDePutte explained. “They give us $450 and then donate the ice cream toppings…we used 30 gallons of ice cream, 12 pounds of chocolate syrup, 18 pounds of strawberry syrup, a case of whipped cream, and 12 bags of mini M&Ms (for the party).”
“The whole purpose of the reading program is to get them to read beyond the school day,” she added. “It’s supposed to be mostly at home.”