Reading Rocks Celebrates Literacy, Schools
by ERINN CRIDER
For years, the people of Fayetteville and the surrounding area have come together to
celebrate and promote literacy in the schools. The community does this by participating
in Reading Rocks. It's a great way to support local schools and participate in something
healthy at the same time.
"This year will be the best
year ever! Reading Rocks started
in 2004. This year is our 10th
anniversary so it is a very special
year and we are very excited. Last
year we had more than 20,000
walkers and raised $245,000.
Throughout the history of
Reading Rocks, we have had
200,000 walkers and have raised
$1.5 million," Belinda Cashwell,
the director of Media Services,
explained.
Reading Walks has two parts. Thousands turn out every year to participate in
First the students in the school
Reading Rocks.
system raise money by soliciting
sponsors for their participation
in the walk. Then there is the Reading Rocks Walk-a-Thon where all the students,
teachers and parents walk through downtown and celebrate the contributions being
made to literacy. The walk is through beautiful downtown Fayetteville, and schools
that raise the most money get to lead the walk. There is a lot more going on than just
walking however.
"We call it a parade in reverse. There are school bands preforming all along our 1.2mile walk, and the band of the school that raised the most money will get to lead the
walk," Cashwell said. "We will also have a host band that will entertain everyone before
we get started and a 500-voice choir to sing the "National Anthem" and the "Literacy
Rocks Song."
In the spirit of supporting the community, there is also a cause every year at the walk-
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
a-thon to which walkers can donate.
"We love to give back; last year we collected used cell phones to donate to women
who are victims of domestic violence. This year we are working with Second Harvest
Food Bank and are encouraging kids to bring canned foods to donate. Walking is free,
but we do accept and encourage donations. We want to celebrate our 10th anniversary!
We expect to do this at this years Reading Rocks by coming together and reflecting on
our past and celebrating the present," said Cashwell.
In the past few years there has been a major change in Reading Rocks — it has
gone digital. The money still goes to support the local schools, but the schools have been
pushing to modernize.
"This change has everyone involved extremely excited. Cashwell explained some of
the ways the money raised will be used in schools. "The money goes to buy students
digital books and other tools like iPads. Students will be able to read a book and then
go to the library and take a
test on it. Then the parents
or grandparents, or whoever
signed up for it, will receive
a text or email telling them
about the test. Reading Rocks
is fun and a great way to
support the schools' initiative
to go digital."
The walk will begin at 9
a.m. on Oct. 19. The walk
is 1.2 miles long through
downtown Fayetteville and
will start
in Festival
Park located at the corner of Ray Avenue and Rowan Street. For more
information, visit http://mediasrvcs.ccs.
ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer.
k12.nc.us/ccs-reading-rocks-walk-aCOMMENTS? Editor@upandcomthon/.
ingweekly.com.
OCTOBER 9-15, 2013
UCW
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