Gabrielino High School freshmen visited McKinley Elementary School on March 10 to read to younger students as part of the annual Read Across America celebration. The event allowed students to promote literacy while connecting with the local community.
Read Across America is a nationwide literacy program that originally began as a way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2. The event has since expanded to promote reading and literacy for students of all ages.
Freshmen walked from Gabrielino to McKinley Elementary during the school day to participate in the reading activity. The visit gave high school students the opportunity to share stories with younger students and encourage a love of reading.
Throughout the visit, freshmen read a variety of popular picture books to elementary students, including “Dragons Love Tacos,” “The Giving Tree,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” and many more. Many younger students were energetic and excited as they listened to the stories, often asking questions that showed interest.
Eileen Chi, librarian, said visits like these bring a different kind of energy to campus and help younger students feel more connected to school. “A lot of kids are excited to see high school kids on campus,” Chi said, noting that the presence of older students can make reading feel more engaging and memorable.
Jayden Valdez, freshman, said the experience was more interactive than expected as more students joined throughout the visit. “We just read to kindergartners, but once more kids started coming in, we read to first graders and second graders,” Valdez said, mentioning how the group had to adjust to different age levels.
Jennifer Mendez, English teacher, said the trip is especially meaningful for many high school volunteers. “It’s a very popular volunteer opportunity for the older kids because a lot of them remember being students at McKinley and having older students come and read to them,” Mendez said.
She added that returning to a familiar campus makes the experience more meaningful, often giving the high school students a sense of nostalgia. “I think it holds a special place in their memory,” she said.
Graciela Gomez, freshman, said the experience allowed high school students to serve as role models for the younger children. “I think we provided the kids with good role models because to them we’re like really big kids, so they look up to us,” Gomez said, emphasizing the influence older students can have on younger children.
The visit helped strengthen connections between Gabrielino High School and McKinley Elementary. By participating in Read Across America, freshmen encouraged literacy while engaging with younger students in the district.
