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Photos by Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Nancy Helms of Ogreeta reads the book Beemer’s Adventures by author Jane Hembree of Murphy to a group of third-grade students from Peachtree Elementary School at Murphy City Hall on Thursday. -
Peachtree Elementary School student Kadence Tanner looks up to Mayor Tim Radford during the Read Across America kickoff event at Murphy City Hall on Thursday. -
Kade Garrett, a third-grade student from Peachtree Elementary School, holds up his autographed copy of Beemer’s Adventures during the Read Across America kickoff event at Murphy City Hall on Thursday. -
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Murphy – About 15 third-grade students from Peachtree Elementary School were all smiles Thursday at City Hall to help kickoff the Read Across America program.
Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program. It calls for each child in every community to celebrate reading with the theme “Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers.”
Read Across America Week is celebrated March 2-6. It begins on the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.
Mayor Tim Radford, Dr. Keevin Woody – superintendent, Cherokee County Schools, Patricia Matthews – principal of Peachtree Elementary, Nancy Helms of the Rotary Club of Murphy and Grape Creek Homemakers, Travis Hicks – past Rotary Club president, Stacy Russell – the class teacher and Blake McDonald – the school bus driver – were among those in attendance at the gathering.
Author Jane Hembree of Murphy, author of the children’s book Beemer’s Adventures, was scheduled to attend but unable to due to a medical situation. Each of the students received a gift bag containing an autographed copy of Hembree’s book as well as a blue Rotary bookmark presented by Hicks with the Four-Way Test printed on it in gold lettering.
Radford explained to the children what the Four-Way Test is and encouraged them to think upon it before making decisions:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
The Four-Way Test was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert Taylor.
One student said, “I feel happy and excited about getting a book and just being here.”
Another student from the class equated meeting Radford with meeting the president of the United States.
“It is so important that we get youth involved in helping their community so that they are able to see how much the power of one person is multiplied when working for a common goal,” Hicks said.
“I am so fortunate that I get to read to these kiddos every month, and they have truly shown me so very many things that we as adults often take for granted,” Radford said. “Every month, I remind them about the Four-Way Test that all Rotarians use to make sound, helpful and good decisions. It was an honor to give them a bookmark that reminds them of the test every time they open their book.”
The goody bags and books were sponsored by Peachtree Broadband Fiber.