Unsworth students joined others across the nation for Read Across America Day sponsored by the National Education Association. Children gathered on the playground wearing Seuss hats. Rusick read Seuss to the students. She also challenged them to read 250,000 minutes as a cumulative effort. If they did, she vowed to go up in a hot air balloon.
Students read as much as they wanted each evening.
For each 10 minutes of reading, students colored in a section on a balloon chart worth 100 minutes. As classes accumulated each 1,000 minutes, the teachers colored in a section of a large balloon displayed in the cafeteria. Students surpassed the goal within the five week time limit. David Ball, a member of the Southern California Balloon Association, volunteered his time and flight crew for the event. The program is geared for grades 8-12 but grades 6 and 7 will also be allowed to participate if they would like to.