Students' reading achievements uplifting Students' reading achievements uplifting (June 11, 2004)

Monta Loma principal takes a ride

By Julie O'Shea

Last year, Monta Loma Principal Linda Haines sat on the school's roof for a day after her students exceeded their million-page reading goal.

This year, Haines promised her students she'd "go higher than the roof" if they met the million-page mark again.

Haines is a woman of her word.

After announcing to her students that they had once again surpassed their reading goal during a special outside assembly last week, Haines jumped onto a motorized lift, which pumped her 25 feet into the air.

Her students -- who'd collectively read 1,133,517 pages of books this year -- were in awe.

"She said she was going to go higher than the roof, and she did," said Drew Spreen, a first-grader.

Next year, "she might go all the way up to heaven," said a smiling Akemi Yoshida, another first-grader.

Added her classmate, Elizabeth Wherry, "I think she's going to go to the sun."

Or the moon, offered Tinashe Choto, who was among the student speculators.

Haines said she has a few ideas about how she can outdo herself next year, but she is keeping her lips sealed on the plans. All she will say on the matter is that a hot-air balloon is not out of the question.

The principal said she is thrilled that the school's reading campaign has excited her students about opening books.

The campaign "does bring us together as a school," Haines said. "It unites us around a goal and creates excitement."

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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