Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary students laughed and listened intently, captivated by community leaders who took turns reading classic tales on March 2 in celebration of Read Across America, the annual reading awareness program.
Literary rhymes from Dr. Seuss classics like “The Cat in The Hat,” “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket” filled classrooms as guest readers encouraged children to explore books and imparted important lessons.
The day’s festivities, which honor children’s author Dr. Seuss and his March 2 birthday, began with Rancho’s annual “Green Eggs and Ham” breakfast. Rancho Principal Octavio Perez walked the campus dressed as The Cat in the Hat, stopping to energize students and pose for pictures. “This is a really exciting day for our school. We’re showing children the importance of reading but also introducing them to valuable leaders in our community,” Perez said. “We’re so grateful to the Whittier police, the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department and Council member Joe A. Zamora & Juanita Trujillo and every person who took the time today to encourage our students to continue learning.”