Reading resulted in magic for Herkimer Elementary School students.
Because students reached their goal of reading for a combined more than 45,000 minutes over the two weeks of their Pick A Reading Partner (PARP) program, illusionist Leon Etienne performed for students on Thursday, March 27, including a magic trick where it appeared sharp spikes went through Herkimer Elementary Principal Renee Vogt as she lay down on a table.
“You met your reading goal,” Etienne said, during the assembly. “You deserve a big show today.”
Herkimer Elementary School students actually reached more than 46,000 minutes of reading during their PARP program, which had a video game theme this year of “level up with reading,” said Jennifer Olds, Herkimer Elementary School library media specialist.
“We were trying to get students to put video games down and pick a book up,” she said. “We wanted to encourage reading. The kids did great.”
A PARP Night on March 13 featured a “game on” theme from classic video games for decorations and activities. The PARP program also included a book fair, and the Elementary PTA sponsored activities, Olds said.
There also was a bookmark design contest, which had more than 220 entries. The winners were: Rylee Judd for prekindergarten, Isabella Macri for kindergarten, Adrielle Lindberg-Felix for first grade, Aubrienna Claridy for second grade, Brynlee Pike for third grade, Tyquan Simmons II for fourth grade and Maurice Luck IV for fifth grade. The winners will receive a free book and a laminated copy of their bookmark, and copies of their bookmarks will be available in the library for all to use.
During Etienne’s energetic performance, he talked about the important role reading had in his start in magic. He learned his first magic trick when he was 12 from reading a book from the library, and then he showed the card trick to his mom. He said that was the first step on his journey to performing on national television and across the planet.
“I tour all around the world because of a single book,” he said.
With the two weeks of PARP coming to an end, Etienne encouraged students to continue reading.
“You don’t stop there,” he said.
Illusionist Leon Etienne performs a magic trick with Herkimer Elementary School Principal Renee Vogt on Thursday, March 27, during a PARP assembly. View more photos on our Facebook page.
The Herkimer Elementary School PARP program included a bookmark design contest, and the winners for each grade level are pictured here along with Elementary School Principal Renee Vogt (in back) and student Antonio Jowett (left), who helped announce the winners. The winners, from left (starting to the right of Jowett): fourth grader Tyquan Simmons II, prekindergarten student Rylee Judd, kindergartener Isabella Macri, first grader Adrielle Lindberg-Felix, second grader Aubrienna Claridy, third grader Brynlee Pike and fifth grader Maurice Luck IV. View more photos on our Facebook page.
Illusionist Leon Etienne performs a magic trick with Herkimer Elementary School student Jaida Tibbits on Thursday, March 27, during a PARP assembly. View more photos on our Facebook page.
Illusionist Leon Etienne performs a card trick during a PARP assembly on Thursday, March 27, at Herkimer Elementary School. View more photos on our Facebook page.
Illusionist Leon Etienne performs a magic trick with Herkimer Elementary School Principal Renee Vogt on Thursday, March 27, during a PARP assembly. View more photos on our Facebook page.