Reading Article
EA, teaching more than the three Rs
Too often we hear about what’s not right with our schools … well, the student body at Escambia Academy did something right recently.
Students were challenged by and participated in the school’s Reading Relay. During Reading Relay, the students, parents, teachers and a few guest readers committed themselves to read continuously for 7 days. That’s right, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Students were challenged to raise at least $30 in pledges. Ninety percent of the students at EA participated in the fundraiser including students in all grades, K4 through 12.
The Reading Relay started April 23 at 8 a.m. and ended April 30 at 8 a.m., 7 days later.
Some of the guest readers were Atmore Mayor Howard Shell, Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheryl Vickery and Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith.
The effort the students put into the Reading Relay was impressive, but it’s what happened after a conversation with the headmaster from Sparta Academy that makes the student’s accomplishment remarkable.
The headmaster shared a story about Camp Smile-A-Mile. Camp Smile-A-Mile is located in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama, near Lake Martin. It’s a nonprofit organization which exists on donations. Camp Smile-A-Mile is a place for young people up to the age of 18, and what set’s it apart is it’s for young people who are battling cancer. These special young people attend the camp where there are doctors, nurses and educators.
This Saturday Keith Burt, a math teacher at Sparta Academy, is participating in Ride-of-Love, a 150 mile bike ride from Tuscaloosa to Camp Smile-A-Mile. He will be representing Sparta Academy and the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA.)
The headmaster from Sparta visited EA Monday morning.
That’s where this story takes another interesting turn.
It’s remarkable the students raised $1,000 and presented a check to the visiting headmaster, the funds earmarked for Camp Smile-A-Mile.
“You don’t know what you’ve done,” the visitor said. “For every dollar raised, a company in Monroeville will match dollar for dollar.”
The cost for one young person to attend Camp Smile-A-Mile is $250 making it possible for 8 people to attend the camp.
If the gift to Camp Smile-A-Mile wasn’t incredible enough, the Reading Relay raised enough funds allowing Escambia Academy to donate $1,000 to Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge is a home away from home for cancer patients while in Birmingham for treatment. Several Atmore area residents have stayed in Hope Lodge.
The Sparta Academy headmaster told the group he was one of the first to stay at Hope Lodge after it opened. His wife battled cancer, and while she was receiving treatment, Hope Lodge was their home.
Pictured at top, Melanie Hendrix presents the check to Keith Burt. They’re joined here by a group of EA Elementary students.
The top fundraisers in the upper grades were, from left, Lauren Stacey, Anna Catherine Sasser, Garrett Nesmith, Chad Cooper, Tadd Wall, Madison Matthews
The top fundraisers in the lower grades were, from left, Melissa Wilson, Bailey Dole, McKenzie Gibson, Hamp Weatherford, Megan Wilson, Meredith McGhee, Bailey Jones, Madelyn Smih, Trace Presnall, Claudia Stewart
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