Grafton, WI – Gill's Reading Challenge is back for 2017. After a record breaking 5,500 students from all over Southeastern Wisconsin participated in last year's challenge, the Chinooks have decided to continue on with the team's reading initiative. With the Reading Challenge, the team hopes to increase literacy in schools and to get students of all ages excited about reading. The program is sponsored by Stein's Garden and Home.
Gill's Reading Challenge is a free program available to all schools in the area. The challenge is intended for students in grades K-8. The program is eight weeks long which consist of four two week segments. Schools can determine their program start date but all challenges must conclude by the end of May.
With this free program, teachers will have the ability to set students' goals for each base whether it is a set number of pages, number of chapters, or number of books read. At the start of the program, each student will be given a calendar to help track their progress throughout the challenge. When a student reaches their goal for each base they will be rewarded with a prize from the Chinooks. If a student reaches all four goals and makes it around all the bases, they will be rewarded with a ticket to a Lakeshore Chinooks game as well as a certificate of completion.
Teachers and schools may also use the student's tickets for an end of the year field trip to the Chinooks annual Education Day which will be on June 5th at 11:35am. Otherwise, students will have five game dates to choose from to redeem their ticket voucher. On June 4th, it will be Reading Challenge Night at Kapco Park. All students in attendance who completed the Reading Challenge will be able to join Gill on the field for a pre-game parade and recognition for completing the program. Students will also be given an order form for family and friends to order additional tickets.
The team will provide all the necessary materials for teachers, students, and parents. At the start of the challenge, the coordinators will receive step by step instructions, an introduction letter for parents, calendars for students, student goal and progress chart for the classroom, teacher tracking charts, and the incentive prizes.
Gill is also available to come to your school and help kickoff your reading challenge. Appearance dates and times are limited to school day hours and are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information and to get your school's challenge started, contact Ashley Sugden at 262-618-4659 or by emailing ashleys@lakeshorechinooks.com
The Chinooks hope to get your school hooked on reading! So if you are a teacher and school faculty member, don't wait, get your school enrolled today. If you are a parent, talk to your children's teachers about this great free program.