Five-year-old Paxton Jurnak preferred to stand with Santa at the Pittston Area Winter Reading Program for Pre-K through fifth-grade students at the high school on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Four-year-old twins Alex, left, and Natalie Reese were busy assembling Christmas ornaments at the Winter Reading Wonderland at Pittston Area.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
From left: Brooks Zbysheski, 3; Chloé Zbysheski, 8; and Bryn Donahue, 8 make snow globes during the Reading Winter Wonderland at Pittston Area High School. The event aimed to promote reading and literacy for pre-k through fifth-grade students.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Sister and brother four-year-old Zakalah, left, and seven-year-old Pharoh Astwood took advantage of having supplied breakfast as a part of Pittston Area’s Winter Reading Program on Dec. 14.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Using STEM reading applied to flying a drone, eight-year-old Mike Amitia, left, does his best to land the drone with the supervision of 16-year-old Kevin Jombe looking on.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
PITTSTON — After taking a hiatus during the COVID years, the Reading Winter Wonderland returned to Pittston Area High School to promote reading and hands-on activities to promote literacy for Pre-K to fifth-grade students.
There were 20 stations provided for the children where they chose to make ornaments, Grinch slime, Reindeer coco, and even flew Santa drones by applying reading skills.
Students and families were treated to a hardy breakfast, raffled prizes, a book, and even a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Christmas tunes were performed by elementary, middle school and high school choruses throughout the four-hour program in the grand lobby of the school.
According to Assistant Superintendent Dr. John Haas, over 500 students and their families attended the Saturday, Dec. 14 program.
“We increased our numbers from the last time we ran the program with over 500 people here,” Haas said. “We are very fortunate to share with the parents the reading activities that they can help their kids with that go along with our curriculum as well.”
Dr. Haas said it was a fun and festive day on which the school district could showcase the importance of early childhood reading and how it builds from year to year and grade level to grade level, as well as integrate STEM activities.
Reading Winter Wonderland resumed this year after taking some time off during the pandemic with the assistance of Pittston Area staff team members Arlene Shatrowskas and Kim McGinty, along with Elementary School principals Gennaro Zangardi, Arthur Savokinas, and Tiffany Ferentino.
Reading Winter Wonderland has been in the planning stages since this past July during summer meetings.
“Our teachers took it to another level with their skills in getting the literacy stations together,” Dr. Haas said, in praising the staff on the success of the Title 1 program.
Haas went on to applaud the high school students participating in the program that day.
“It was a very engaging day with our high school kids helping from different clubs wearing costumes and interacting with the children,” Haas stated. “We wanted to get as many teachers and students involved as possible to make it a fun day, and I believe the day was a success.”
