East Rockaway School District

March 15, 2025

East Rockaway kicks off PARP Month with a special visit from high school students

March marks the beginning of Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) Month, a statewide family reading program that encourages students to read for at least 20 minutes a day with a partner—whether a family member, friend, or mentor. Originally developed in 1978 by New York State Senator James Donovan, PARP fosters a strong connection between home and school, reinforcing a lifelong love of reading in children.

East Rockaway students embraced the spirit of PARP this week with a special kickoff event. High school students visited Rhame Avenue and Centre Avenue elementary schools, stepping into classrooms to read books with younger students and engage in some fun activities.

Excitement was felt as elementary students eagerly participated, hanging on to every word their high school reading partners shared. For the high school students, the experience was just as meaningful—many found themselves back in their former elementary school classrooms, reconnecting with the place where their own love of reading first began.

By bringing students of all ages together, East Rockaway’s PARP kickoff not only celebrated the joy of reading but also highlighted the bonds that make the East Rockaway community so special.

A young adult reads a book titled 'What Eats People' to a classroom of elementary school students. A young man reads aloud to a group of students in a classroom, with a sign that says 'Read' and 'Light up your imagination' on the wall. A group of young adults read a story to elementary school students in a classroom. A group of young people read a storybook to a classroom of children. A group of children listen attentively as a woman reads a book to them in a classroom. A group of students and adults participate in an activity in a classroom setting. A group of children play a game with red cups in a classroom setting. Three students play a game with red cups in a classroom setting. Three students play a game in a classroom, carefully stacking red cups. A group of students stand in a classroom, watching a tower of red cups being built. A teacher and three students work together on a laptop in a library setting.