Monticello students are top readers in the county

Saturday was a day to celebrate reading and readers. On May 25, students from throughout the county came to Monticello to be recognized for their reading prowess. That included 19 students from the Monticello Central School District’s Rutherford and Cooke Elementary Schools and Monticello High School.

Three students wearing medals and holding certificates smile along with three adults
Monticello High School students Khalea Washington, Claude Seward and Xiomara Reyes received medals and certificates for their reading. Next to them are Lynn Miller of Sullivan County BOCES,, Monticello High School librarian Stephanie Byrne, and Sara Haynes also of Sullivan County BOCES.

The students took part in the Cross County Reading Challenge (CCRC), an initiative from the School Library System at Sullivan BOCES (SLSSB) where schools have teams of participating students. They started logging in their books on the challenge’s website to keep an official tally. It was amazing to see how many books the students were reading. The challenge began back in September and finished this month.

Here are the Monticello students named top readers in the county, along with the number of books they read. Monticello High School was also named top reading secondary school in the county.

Four women, two holding a banner, declaring Monticello High School as the first place winner for secondary schools in reading in Sullivan County.
Pictured from left are Lynn Miller, Sullivan County BOCES; Stephanie Byrne and Theresa Owens, Monticello High School, and Sara Haynes, Sullivan County BOCES. Monticello High School received a banner for coming in first place among Sullivan County secondary schools.

“I want to give a huge thank you for everyone that came to Monticello on Saturday afternoon,” said Lynn Miller, School Library System director at Sullivan County BOCES. “The CCRC awards were a real hit, and it was beautiful to see so many families enjoying their time together.”

 

RUTHERFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  • Deanna Livingston (3)
  • Jasheiliz Gonzalez Toro (6)
  • Zariana Farrar (3)
Two women and one elementary student hold a banner declaring George L. Cooke Elementary School the fourth place finisher in the Cross Country Reading Challenge
Lynn Miller of Sullivan County BOCES, left, and Monticello School Board President Lori Orestano-James, right, stand with Brooklyn Brown Johnson, a student at Cooke Elementary school who read 50 books for the Cross County Reading Challenge.

COOKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  • Isabella Carpinone (25)
  • Brooklyn Brown Johnson (50)
  • Isaiah Rodriquez (50)
  • Amberleigh Benitez (25)
  • Astrid Gutierrez Tapia (19)
  • Crystal Nipitella (36)
  • Sydney Robinson (21)
  • Makalia Xavier (22)

Four elementary students wearing medals hold up their reading certificates. Two adults stand behind them.

MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL

  • Claudia Seward (43)
  • Delsin Sefman (50)
  • Amelia Forman (43)
  • Sam Leoniuk (34)
  • Khalea Washington (25)
  • Mana Iwata (22)
  • Skye Hounshell (21)
  • Xiomara Reyes (23)