Bloomfield Schools Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday: A Wild and Crazy Week

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The following news release was originally published on the Patch Bloomfield Bulletin Board.

Bloomfield Schools recently celebrated Read Across America Week by honoring a special birthday guest: Dr. Seuss.

According to a news release, elementary school children were treated to a week's worth of Dr. Seuss style wonder and fun, including special guest readers, Funny Hat and Hair Days, a pajama day, Tongue Twister Tuesday and Wacky Wednesday.

At Berkeley school, the beloved author who opened the door to reading for so many children was honored with a Dr. Seuss Door Decorating Contest.

"Some of the doors that the students and teachers have put together are absolutely fabulous," said Berkeley School Librarian Tabitha Rice. "And on Wacky Wednesday, the students’ hair embodied the free-spirited and innovative thinking that is characteristic of Dr. Seuss’ work. Fun was had by all."

At Demarest School, the week's activities included, "Free to Read Monday" (students wore Red/White/Blue to celebrate the freedom to read what one wants); "Crazy Socks Tuesday" a tribute to Dr. Seuss' Fox In Socks; "Oh, The Places You Go Wednesday;" Thursday was Crazy Hat Day in honor of Dr. Seuss' The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, and students wore green on "Green Eggs and Ham" Friday.

At Berkeley School it was a fun-filled week as well. Monday was "Pajamas for Trees!" day in honor of the book, I am Not Going to Get up Today! (Students were allowed to wear their pajamas to school if they brought $1 to go towards planting a tree on Earth Day.) Next was Tongue Twister Tuesday, followed by Wacky Wednesday (wacky hair day). Thursday was School Pride Day, inspired by Hooray For Diffendoofer Day! and Friday was Movie Night with a viewing of the original “Lorax” movie. (The new Lorax movie, which also corresponded with Dr. Seuss’ birthday, premired in theaters this weekend.)

At Oak View School, the author's birthday was celebrated with a Book Fair Luau kick-off. "Sponsored by the Home & School Association, the week featured a Family Night that had parents and children lined up outside the Library doors," said Patricia D’Avanzo, Oak View School Media Specialist.

"The family theme continued through the week as parents visited their children’s classes sharing some of their favorite Seuss stories. The BHS Bengals Paws shared their Seuss favorites with the younger students and visited by their older buddies in the classrooms. The week culminated on Friday, March 2, 2012 (the actual birthday of Dr. Seuss) with a craft sponsored by the Wellness Committee. Students created crafts that represented some of their beloved children’s books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, If You Give A Mouse Cookie and The Cat in the Hat.

Fairview School held its annual “Family Reading Night” celebration as part of its Read Across America Week festivities. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade and their parents assembled in Fairview’s media center to enjoy various activities including reading, making bookmarks or Lorax masks, and even visiting with The Cat in the Hat himself!

Next, primary grade students and their family retired to the multi-purpose room “reading stations.” Students rotated between the various stations listening to storieslike A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech, Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.

Students in the intermediate grades stayed in the media center to listen to a reading of Brian Selznick’s newest novel, Moonstruck. The evening concluded with refreshments provided by Fairview’s Home and School Association.

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