Schools

State Rep. Vincent Candelora Reads To Jerome Students On Read Across America Day (VIDEO)

Taking a seat around the campfire at 'Camp Read-A-Lot' Wednesday, Candelora read 'Duck for President' and 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' to Jerome Harrison Elementary School students.

On Tuesday night, State Representative Vincent Candelora attended a North Branford Town Council meeting, where he spoke out in opposition of the tax hikes and increased spending in Governor Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget.

On Wednesday afternoon, Candelora was ruminating on the consequences of a duck becoming president. 

In celebration of the National Education Association's Read Across America Day, Candelora read “Duck for President” and "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" to a few classes gathered in the Jerome Harrison Elementary School gym, which had transformed into 'Camp Read-A-Lot'. The NEA decided to observe Read Across America Day on March 2 because that is the date of Dr. Seuss' birthday. He would have turned 107 this year.  

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“My son Tommy is in second grade and he picked out the books for me,” Candelora said. Candelora represents the 86th district, which covers North Branford and parts of East Haven and Wallingford. He said he was invited to read by second-grade teacher Judy Bannon.

The first class Candelora read to around a makeshift campfire was Aimee Aiken’s second-grade class of 21 kids.

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“The kids love listening,” Aiken said. "And it's a fun venue in which to read."

Aiken said this is the first year of 'Camp Read-A-Lot', which was spearheaded by Judy Bannon and her husband, Peter, who did the woodwork for the set.


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