MURFREESBORO – On March 15, Riverview Elementary hosted Community & Family Reading Night. The event was free to all in attendance and brought together RES students, faculty, local parents, community members as well as volunteers from Chowan University.

Family Reading Night began with a short play by RES students, and was followed by a discussion of the importance of reading led by Chowan University volunteers.

Literacy stations / games, and free book tables were included in the program. Some of the stations / games included Guess the Character, Make Your Own Book, and Draw Your Own Illustration. Finally, sandwiches, fresh fruit and bottled water concluded the evening.

In total, there were over 180 people in attendance for Community & Family Reading Night. It was a great evening full of laughs, literacy and community fellowship.

The Riverview Elementary family would like to thank all parents, RES students and Chowan University volunteers. Special thanks go out to Caroline Stephenson, owner of Cultivator Bookstore located in downtown Murfreesboro, Professor Tim Hayes (Chowan University), the Farm to School to Healthcare Partnership, Ahoskie Walmart, Food Lion, Murfreesboro SECU, PNC Bank, the Chowan Adult Degree Completion Program and Henry Brooks (St. Paul Church Food Pantry). Without their help the event would not have been possible.

“I enjoyed the family reading night very much. There were tasty sandwiches. I liked the three books I got to take home. I got to see a lot of my friends,” said Jonathan Edwards (RES, 2nd Grade).

“”I had fun on Thursday night. I liked the books I got to take home. My favorite part was the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” stated Aiyanna Horton (RES, 2nd Grade).

“I had a nice time. What I liked about Reading Night is that it had fun stuff. I liked the games, books and coloring. It helped me read more,” Zakayla Dukes (RES, 3rd Grade) remarked.

“At Family Reading Night, I learned about new characters at the Guess the Character station. I picked out books that I have been reading every day,” said Joseph Taylor (RES, 5th Grade)

“We would like to thank everyone who came together to support the importance of reading,” stated Caroline Stephenson.

“Great collaboration with RES and Chowan student volunteers; helping with games and activities for Family Reading Night,” noted RES 5th Grade teacher Maryet Carter-Owens.

“Our first reading night was a great success. Thanks to The Cultivator for organizing this wonderful event to bring our school and community together. A great time was had by

everyone,” remarked Craig Dennis, an Art teacher at the school.

“I thought the event was a wonderful idea, and greatly appreciate the efforts put forth by Caroline Stephenson in organizing the event. Anything that we can do to promote not only reading, but also bringing our community together, is a worthwhile effort, and it is my hope it becomes an annual event,” stated Mitch Radford, who serves as president of Riverview PTSO.

“I thought the Reading Night at Riverview Elementary was a huge success and proof of what can happen when community members, Chowan University students and faculty, and Riverview Elementary administrators and staff work together. We all want to celebrate and promote literacy in Hertford County in a fun and exciting way, and this was a wonderful way to do that,” said Tim Hayes Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of English, Chowan University).