SANTA FE SPRINGS – Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary students laughed and listened intently, captivated by community leaders who took turns reading classic tales on March 2 in celebration of Read Across America, the annual reading awareness program.

Literary rhymes from Dr. Seuss classics like “The Cat in The Hat,” “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket” filled classrooms as guest readers encouraged children to explore books and imparted important lessons.
 
Whittier Police Officer Lindsay Inman dedicated a few moments to recently fallen Officer Keith Boyer, and assured students of her role in keeping them safe. Santa Fe Springs City Council member Juanita Trujillo shared a lesson on dreaming big.   
 
“You can do anything you want in life and go as far as your imagination takes you,” Trujillo said. “I was the youngest woman to be elected mayor in Santa Fe Springs and the youngest elected to the City Council. Anything is possible.”
 

Trujillo and the Whittier police were joined by the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department, the city’s public safety officers as well as librarians, parents and Los Nietos Board of Education members. 
 
The day’s festivities, which honor children’s author Dr. Seuss and his March 2 birthday, began with Rancho’s annual “Green Eggs and Ham” breakfast. Rancho Principal Octavio Perez walked the campus dressed as The Cat in the Hat, stopping to energize students and pose for pictures.
 
“This is a really exciting day for our school. We’re showing children the importance of reading but also introducing them to valuable leaders in our community,” Perez said. “We’re so grateful to the Whittier police, the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department and every person who took the time today to encourage our students to continue learning.” 
 
Rancho’s celebration was a part of the District’s two-day observance of the Read Across America program. The fun will continue March 3 at Aeolian and Ada S. Nelson Elementary schools. State Assembly Majority Leader Ian C. Calderon will visit Aeolian, which will kick off its day with an assembly that features “The Cat in the Hat” along with Thing 1 and Thing 2 and conclude the event with a schoolwide lunch picnic.
 
Nelson will enjoy a global theme with each classroom representing a different country during a day that will combine lessons in literature and world culture.
 
“Read Across America is a great opportunity for educators to show our children how much we care,” Los Nietos Superintendent Jonathan Vasquez said. “From our guests, to the staff, teachers and parents, we’re putting our commitment to our children into action and that sends them a strong message that we’ll be behind them as they strive to achieve their goals.”