Windsor Farm Students Mush for the 'Iditaread'

For Windsor Farm teacher Jeanne Olsen, the Iditarod (an annual dog sledding race that takes place in Alaska this time of year) is truly exhilarating. So she, media specialist Linda Brooks, the reading teachers and the entire staff captured the excitement of the race and developed a school-wide winter motivational reading program centered around the race.

Calling it the “Idtiaread,” students “mushed” through hours and hours of reading over the past month, clocking their amounts as they “raced” to the finish line. Encouraging them along the way were the race boards and “sled” (a specially designed gift box with goodie prizes for lucky students).

On Friday, students were treated to an awards ceremony, where reading leaders were recognized for their achievements. The ceremony also included a history of the race (narrated by WFES students), and a special video taken by third grade teacher Jeanne Pettebone when she visited Vail, Co., this past winter and actually rode in a sled pulled by a team of dogs similar to the Iditarod.

A play by fourth grade Victoria Lagana’s class followed, a re-telling of the story of Balto, the legendary dog leader of the first Iditarod team, who ran not for fame or money, but to bring sick children lifesaving medicine in rural Alaska.

The WFES program was a great success, with students reading over 3,450 hours. The fourth grade classes read the most hours, with Ms. Baillieul’s class in the lead.

The classes with 100 percent participation included:  Brown, Belote, Persel, and Hines.

The top readers in each grade level were:  Meagan Redmond for Kindergarten; Olivia and Caitlyn Powell for first grade; Aidan Rand for second grade, Jackelin Osario Bravo for third grade; Maddie Larson for fourth; and Eelaaf Zahid for fifth. 

For more information on the Iditarod race that started yesterday, click here.