Eagle Elementary School Reading Prize Patrol Surprises Family Literacy Winners

National Family Literacy Month Program Enhances Reading, Writing, and Community Engagement

MEDFORD, NEW YORK (DECEMBER 2024)—In honor of November’s National Family Literacy Month, Eagle Elementary School organized an interactive program that featured families participating in literacy activities with their children every Monday through Thursday. The school selected at random a family who successfully fulfilled their pledge from each grade level to receive a visit and prizes from the Eagle Reading Prize Patrol.

“Our Eagle Elementary School families pledged to read and write for the entire month and were then entered into a lottery,” said Eagle Elementary School Principal Erin Skahill. “If they are selected, we will visit their home to honor them and provide books and a celebration.”

Eagle administrators, faculty, staff, and community members have begun to visit each winning family with a banner, balloons, a sash, and book baskets to celebrate their commitment to family literacy. While the parents and guardians of the winning families know the Eagle Reading Prize Patrol is coming, the visits are a complete surprise to students.

For its inaugural visits, the prize patrol visited the houses of kindergartner Bennett LaFond and first grader Amalia Berzosa. The families of fourth grader Thalia Bradley and fifth grader Nyonni Redding were the prize patrol’s second round of celebratory visits. The students expressed their surprise and excitement as the Eagle Reading Prize Patrol congratulated them and bestowed them with gifts to further encourage their literacy. The Eagle Reading Prize Patrol is continuing its visits to the remaining selected families to celebrate their accomplishments and the joys of reading.

“This literacy initiative is in direct support of the Patchogue-Medford School District’s mission to bolster community engagement and develop the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills of our students,” said Patchogue-Medford School District Superintendent Dr. Donna Jones. “We are proud to celebrate our families for their commitment to this program and to our students’ success.”

For more information about the Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District, please visit the District’s website at www.pmschools.org. Happenings in the District can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PatMedSchools/. #PatMedPride.

The Eagle Elementary School Reading Prize Patrol celebrates first grader Amalia Berzosa and her family

The Eagle Elementary School Reading Prize Patrol congratulates fourth grader Thalia Bradley and her family