LYNWOOD – More than 100 Abbott Elementary students peered around Sept. 14 at the 3,000 books lining their new reading room in search of the perfect story to snatch up first, while The Cat in the Hat began reading “Green Eggs and Ham” to a group of fascinated youngsters.
 

The students were the first to venture into their school’s new Reading Oasis, a literary retreat on campus where students can drop in, relax in a bean bag chair and open their minds to endless possibilities. In addition to its vast collection of books, the Reading Oasis is adorned with colorful paint, a large outside mural depicting Dr. Seuss tales and reading assistance technology to spark a passion for reading.

Abbott Elementary hosted a ribbon-cutting event Thursday to mark the facility’s grand opening, with Lynwood Unified students, parents, administrators and community members all eager to get a first glimpse. Free backpacks, books and school supplies were also given out to 100 students.

"Our ultimate goal is for all children to have a love for reading," Abbott first-grade teacher Valeria Corona said. "The seed has been planted and there are so many possibilities on how we can use this reading room to inspire our students to read."

Corona, a Kiwanis member from Santa Fe Springs, brought a Kiwanis group for children called the K-Kids Club to her campus last year to teach her students about giving back to the community. That event and her desire to encourage youngsters to read led to the Abbott Reading Oasis project.

Students can relax in the Reading Oasis and listen to an audiobook or work on homework while teachers can use the space to conduct reading comprehension interventions and tutoring sessions.

“It is so important for all students to have constant access to books while on our campuses, especially during recess and before and after school,” Lynwood Unified Superintendent Paul Gothold said. “Having a passion for reading at a young age sets up students for success in all facets of life. When students love to read, they love to learn.”

The project, supported through a partnership between Kiwanis and the Scholastic book company, is part of a nationwide Reading Rocks initiative led by 24-year-old Ashley Payton. Payton’s goal is to bring early childhood reading and comprehension to the forefront of academics by positioning the next generation of leaders for success.

Abbott is the 11th facility in California.

California-Nevada-Hawaii District of Kiwanis Gov. Cherice Gilliam, who is Payton’s mother, and other Kiwanis representatives attended the ribbon-cutting to discuss their plans for expanding the Reading Rocks initiative.

“So many students are going to benefit from this amazing reading room, and I hope we can expand this project throughout Lynwood Unified,” LUSD Board President Alma-Delia Renteria said. “I really want to thank Abbott Elementary and Kiwanis for volunteering so much of their time to supporting student success here in our District.”