The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Research indicates that students who read eight to 10 books over summer break achieve similar progression to students who participate in a structured summer school program. Continuing its efforts to promote student literacy and encourage reading over the summer months, Wendt administrators have decided to participate in the 2012 Summer Reading Olympics.

Sponsored by Capstone Digital, the national reading initiative uses myON reader through which students will have access to a virtual backpack of more than 2,500 enhanced digital books customized to their interests and reading ability as measured by the Lexile® Framework for Reading. Students can also track their progress throughout the summer.

“We are going to give this program a try. Our hope is that Summer Reading Olympics will give incentive to students to continue reading, learning and challenging themselves during the summer months,” explained Stephanie Leitz who oversees K-12 Title 1/LAP (Learning Assistance Program),

ELL (English Language Learners), and ALE (Alternative Learning Experience).

“Studies demonstrate that learning loss occurs when students are away from school and organized education activities over the summer months,” said Todd Brekhus, president of Capstone Digital. “With myON reader, students are just a click away from more than 2,500 books to help encourage year-around reading, which has been shown to benefit a student’s long-term academic development.”

The 2012 Summer Reading Olympics awards prizes for the top summer readers, in addition to the school that earns the distinction of 2012 Summer Reading Olympics Champion. Prizes include:

• Gold Medal: An iPad for the student who spends the most time reading.

• Silver Medal: A Kindle Fire for the student who spends the second-most time reading.

• Bronze Medal: An iPod touch for the student who spends the third-most time reading.

• The top 100 readers receive a myON backpack.

• Every student who reads 10 books receives the myON Medal of Honor.

• Teachers, librarians and staff can also earn a PolyVision interactive whiteboard for their school by promoting the contest to students and achieving the highest participation rate among schools.

The 2012 Summer Reading Olympics started on June 1 and runs through August 15, and winners will be notified through the Capstone Connect blog. For more information about the 2012 Summer Reading Olympics, visit http://www.thefutureinreading.com/lp/Summer-Reading-Olympics.html.