Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Students Honored For Accelerated Reading Program At PHS

As a new school year at Prescott High School gets underway the third year of accelerated reader (AR) in Shelia Virden's English I and reading classes is slated to begin.

For the first time at PHS this learning information program will also officially be a part of the curriculum in English II, III and IV classes. All the English teachers have received training in the use of the program from reading renaissance seminars and in a one-day refresher course at PHS earlier this summer.

Participating English and/or reading teachers are Doyle Malcom, Shelia Virden, June Johnson and Cyndi Moorman. PHS media specialist Gail Reddin provides students with a wide variety of AR books from which to choose and has worked hard to ensure students' success in finding and reading books of their choice. Results from the PHS accelerated reader program during the 1999-2000 school year were outstanding with a number of students receiving certificates of excellence for their achievements in AR

Earning honors from the fall 1999 reading class was Abby Morman for highest individual average (98%), top individual points, as well as first place team with highest average (94.2%) member and top points team member. Gabe Morman was recognized for second place in the highest individual average (97.5%) and member of the second place team with highest average (92.5%).

Third place in highest individual average, (92.5%), member of first place team with highest average, and member of top points team certificates were earned by David Parks. Brett Woods received certificates for being a member of the first place team with highest average and of the top points team. Reading lab class members Aaron Hearnsberger and Kendall Todd were awarded certificates for being on the second place team with highest average.

In the fall 1999 English I class Haris Williams maintained a perfect 100% average on all his book quizzes and was recognized with the highest individual average certificate. Earning top individual points, certificates were Haris Williams and Heather Thomas with first and second place honors, respectively. The recipients of the top points team awards were Erica Cason, Heather Thomas, Josh Wicker, Haris Williams and Ronardo Williams.

The spring 2000 term with AR was extremely successful, with much enthusiasm for recreational reading displayed by the students in the reading lab. Lea Stout was honored for reading the most books and short stories  17 books and two short stories in less than four months and Staci Stewart received a special recognition certificate for reading the epic novel War and Peace in its entirety and scoring well on the book quiz.

Reading lab students who maintained the highest individual average on book quizzes were Jessica Hunt (97.3%), Courtney Zachery (92.5%), and Amanda Phillips (90.6%). Top individual points achievers were Staci Stewart (244.1 book points), Jessica Hunt (212.3 book points) and Lea Stout (149.6 book points).

Increased interest in the AR program resulted in the need for the recognition of three top points team categories in the reading lab. First place team members were Staci Stewart, Amanda Phillips, Courtney Zachery and LeeVell Walters with a team total of 317.6 AR book points. Jessica Hunt, Tess Campbell, Brittney Banks and K.P. Pearson came in second by earning a team total of 240.5 book points. The third team consisted of Lea Stout, Jesse Wright, Cody Stigaullde and Amy Smith with 168.4 points for their team total.

The final category in which certificates were awarded was the team with highest average. Receiving recognition for keeping a 92% team average on book quizzes were Brittney Banks, Tess Campbell, Jessica Hunt and K.P. Pearson.

Not wanting to be outdone by the reading lab students, spring 2000 English I classes also excelled with Javetta Dilworth being honored for reading and successfully completing the most book quizzes on 15 novels and two short stories. In addition six students were recognized with certificates for highest individual average on AR quizzes. They were Jeremy Purifoy with a perfect 100% average, Chassity Burton, 95%; Javetta Dilworth, 93.2%; Buddy Buck, 92%; Wannalitha Anderson, 91.2%; and Sanatana Daniel, 90%.First place team with highest average honors went to Brittney Banks, Krystle Carrigan, Beth Christopher, Tonya Kisner and Darryle Pickett (88% team average). The team with members Wannalitha Anderson, Santana Daniel, Buddy Buck, Daphaney Meadows, Adam Beaver, Ashley Woods and Andrea Hawthrone came in second with an 83.4% team average.

The fourth and fifth categories of recognition were top individual points, and top team points. The individual point honorees were Javetta Dilworth (138.2 book points, Krystle Carrigan (72.2 book points), and Wannalitha Anderson (64.2 book points). Members of the team with the most total book points were Javetta Dilworth, Jeremy Purifoy, Chassity Burton, Tia Welch and Sophia Dunn with 200.8 points earned among them.

In addition to the aforementioned awarding of certificates the AR participants received recognition throughout the term on the Wall of Fame in their classroom and with other incentives and rewards. By the end of each grading period last school year an entire classroom wall was covered with the names of the Wall of Fame members and the books they had read.

With the further expansion of the accelerated reader program during the upcoming school year the opportunities for reading improvement among PHS students are almost limitless. If you are the parent or guardian of a child in the Prescott School District, encourage your children to read at home and provide a suitable place for reading. This is one of the best gifts you can give to your children.