Thompson Falls students celebrate reading success

During the month of April, students at Thompson Falls Elementary participated in the annual Running Start reading program, designed to encourage students to read for fun. The program kicked off in April with the traditional run around the school playground led by principal Len Dorscher. Students then spent the month reading as much as they could to earn entries for a drawing to win a Kindle. For every 21 books or 21 chapters read, students filled out shoe shaped reading logs to keep track of their progress. Students' names are then entered into the drawing for a chance to win.

The school held the final award ceremony May 4 in the gymnasium. "You have a lot of people in your community that support you and you should feel good about that," Dorscher told the students. Second grade student Kalsin McGuire filled out 18 logs by reading 378 chapters, making her the top reader in the school and winner of a Kindle. One student's name from each grade was then drawn for the remaining Kindles. "Almost 4,000 chapters were read by the whole school this year," said Karen Gustavsen with Thompson Falls Woman's Club (TFWC).

The other Kindle winners were McKinnley Lyons in kindergarten, Cooper Lilly in first grade, Finn Davis in third grade, Gabby Taylor in fourth grade, Toby Susic in fifth grade and Lila Adams in sixth grade.

With the help of First Security Bank, TFWC donated $700 in Scholastic books to help inspire students to read during the program and Thompson Falls Masonic Lodge bought and donated the Kindles. After the award ceremony, Valley Bank brought ice cream for all the students to enjoy. "The Masonic Lodge has been helping TFWC with the reading program for around the last 15 years," said Rene Kovarik with TFWC.

Roy Scott with the Masonic Lodge says this is his first year as a lodge member. He also says this is the first time he volunteered to help with the reading program that gave him the chance to sit and read with second grade students. "Any time we can do anything to help the kids, it's great," Scott said. "My work in law enforcement allows me to do everything I can with the kids. It's nice to have that rapport with them and the high school kids as well."