Dayton Elementary students meet 20,880-minute reading goal

DAYTON–The local elementary participated in the Read Across America program with an accumulative reading goal of 20,880 minutes.

All the students in Dayton Elementary incorporated extra reading time into their schedule over two weeks, to meet the Read Across America program 20,880 reading minute goal. The reward for meeting this goal was the opportunity to dunk principal, Mrs. Cox into the dunk tank.

"Readers earned balls to throw determined by how much they read. Younger students needed to read a set number of picture books to earn one ball, and the older students read a set number of pages of a chapter book to earn one ball," said Tracie Sinkbeil, Dayton Elementary Secretary. "They had a maximum of five balls each, but if they continued to read beyond their maximum goal, they would get to go up and push the bullseye and dunk her after they threw their five balls."

Many students read beyond their maximum for the automatic dunk. They met the 20,880-minute goal allowing every student to take their shots. "The students were alarmingly accurate and Mrs. Cox was dunked an estimated 100 times," said Sinkbeil. "Mrs. Cox says she is 'willing to do whatever it takes to get our kids excited about reading.'"

The kids had a fantastic time.