Thomas County students, faculty, and staff all joined in a week-long Read Across America celebration that coincides with the beloved author Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Nods to the books “Green Eggs and Ham,” “Fox in Socks,” and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” fueled themed dress-up days and adventurous changes to the usual lunch menu.  The culminating activity of the week was Friday’s Read-A-Thon.  Children read and were read to for extended periods of time in their classrooms throughout the day.  A goal was set this year for the children to reach 5000 books. Media Specialist Elexis Griffin sweetened the challenge by agreeing to “kiss a pig” if the goal was met.  The students read 6347 books, and Griffin kissed “Willow and Petunia,” two pigs owned by front office administrative assistant Tina Prevatt. The students were thrilled with a video of the fun when they arrived at school the following Monday.

Captions:  
First grader Marty Jenkins enjoyed green eggs and ham at lunch on Monday of Read Across America week at Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School.

First grader Ella Palmer may be dressed as a tacky tourist, but she is still working hard in her small reading group in Bethany Warren’s class.

Second graders in Stacey Davis’s class got a visit from the Cat in the Hat on Wacky Wednesday. Pictured: (front row) Eliasar Dominguez Jacob, Kylee West, Luke Jones, (middle row) Brody Sutton, Harryson Bamaca Cinto, Ayden Mendoza, Nate Stewart, Heidy Diaz-Gonzalez, K'Lei Cochran, (back row) Isaac Duncan, Stacey Davis, Dilan Rangel, Jasiah Greene, Ben Oliver, Brooke Albury, Abigail Williamson, Paola Perez, Ty'Keriya Mosley, Priscila Bernabe, Janae Waters, Marlei'a Perry, and Le'Aija Revels.

First graders in Amy Bennett’s class dressed as tacky tourists to coincide with the theme of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” during Garrison-Pilcher’s celebration of Read Across America week. Pictured: (front row) Braxton Lindsay, Jayce Nesmith, Rylee Benford, Jagger Palmer, Alaina Gay, Ledger Best (middle row) Jackson Howington, Kalani Wade, Harrison Powell, Carson Marsh, Jermaine Williams, Mason Dunbar, Harmonie Swartz (back row) Amy Bennett, Jaye West, Connor Duncan, Malachi Bean, Hayden Joiner, Emily Conger, Ella Rae Jones, Ally Pilkinton, Hannah Joiner.

Second graders in Caroline Owens’s class wore crazy socks in connection with “Fox in Socks.”  Pictured clockwise: Owens, Sommer Peel, Maisie Meeks, Hadley Perry, Ava Sparks, Christian Jones, Lainey Morales, Steven Capistran, Adrian Omedi, Ava Anglin, Eteva White, and Jackson Klock.

Second grader Keela Watson kicks back with a book during Garrison-Pilcher’s Read-A-Thon on Friday, March 4, 2022.