Gov. John deJongh Jr. is challenging the territory’s students to spend time reading over the coming summer vacation, throwing down the gauntlet for his third Summer Reading Challenge. Along with encouraging young Virgin Islanders to read for entertainment, personal enrichment and overall learning, the summer challenge helps students build their own personal libraries by distributing books for free, according to a Government House statement.
DeJongh launched this year’s Reading Challenge on public television’s “Face to Face” program Thursday night. It is open to all the territory’s public, private and parochial school students between kindergarten and 6th grade.
“We’ve had great success encouraging Virgin Islands children to discover a love of reading through the Summer Reading Challenge, and we are looking forward to getting even more young students involved with this year’s program,” deJongh said in a statement.
Students who keep track of their reading and finish a minimum of five books will be invited to a “Fun Day” with the governor at the end of the summer. Special events to recognize student achievement are planned in both districts.
The governor encourages students to visit any of the territory’s public libraries to select books for this year’s Reading Challenge; e-books are also available for free downloading to those with a library card. DeJongh will personally distribute books, June 18th at the Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas and at the Sunny Isle Mall on St. Croix.
Participating students are encouraged to write to the governor throughout the summer to report their progress, or post their comments, which the governor will monitor, at the Summer Reading Challenge website.
The governor’s Summer Reading Challenge is a partnership of the Office of the Governor, the Department of Education, the Virgin Islands Public Libraries, and Learn-It Systems Corporation. Thanks and appreciation is also extended to this year’s key sponsors: TV 2, Da Vybe, Malvern V. Gumbs of Spectrum Band and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
