Garden City Public Schools

On Feb. 4, students across Garden City Schools came together to celebrate World Read Aloud Day, continuing a cherished district tradition that highlights the joy, connection and power of reading aloud.

The day began with a districtwide read aloud of “The World Needs the Wonder You See” by Joanna Gaines, read by Superintendent Dr. Kusum Sinha. Classrooms across all grade levels paused to listen, reflect and engage in meaningful conversations sparked by the shared story.

High school students played a special role in bringing the celebration to life for younger learners. Theater Arts students recorded poetry by Shel Silverstein to share with primary and elementary classes, under the guidance of teachers Angela McLaughlin and Margaux Calemmo. In addition, members of the High School Literary Circle recorded read alouds for younger students with the support of club advisors Laurie Bocca and Aria Laucella.

Throughout the day, students participated in a wide range of literacy activities, including live and recorded author read alouds, collaborative reading experiences between older and younger classes, and creative projects such as designing bookmarks. These shared moments reinforced reading as a joyful, social experience and highlighted the strong culture of literacy that exists across the district.

“This is one of my favorite days to organize and celebrate,” said Lauren Kaufman, director of literacy K–12. “I love visiting classrooms, reading aloud and seeing the smiles, conversations and connections that books spark. World Read Aloud Day truly illuminates the culture of reading across our district.”

World Read Aloud Day in Garden City reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to fostering a love of reading, building community through shared literacy experiences and celebrating the voices and stories that bring learning to life.