MAGOFFIN COUNTY – Last week high school seniors traveled to their old stomping grounds, the elementary schools they attended, with the seniors reading to the Kindergartners.
Magoffin County Superintendent Chris Meadows actually came up with the idea for the program last year, bringing the seniors back to the grade schools and having them read to the Kindergartners.
“I had seen a picture of a Kindergarten student on Twitter wearing a ‘Class of 2035’ t-shirt, which represented their high school graduation year, and I began to think about our Kindergarten students as high school graduates,” Meadows said. “And from there, it just developed into a reading program. We’re doing it this month because it’s National Reading Month.”
Meadows said the program is two-fold, with something for both age groups.
“I wanted to start with giving the seniors the opportunity to go back to their elementary school where it all started for them, and to visit these Kindergarten students and read ‘Oh The Places You Will Go.’ Secondly, I wanted the Kindergarten students to see themselves as high school graduates. We need to start thinking about graduation sooner than high school. It begins when you enter school.”
He also said it’s for the parents and the community.
“Lastly, I want families and parents and the community to – although we don’t want them to grow up too soon – we need to view them as high school graduates and we need to understand that those skills – everything they learn in the beginning are foundational for post-secondary success, so you can never start too early by acknowledging they will be high school graduates. Today we have celebrated the class of 2036,” Meadows said.
South Magoffin Elementary teacher Missy Daniels enjoyed the program, telling Mortimer Media Group, “I think it’s really great because it helps the students to see where they can be. They can’t imagine themselves in 2036, so just to see the other students and to know that they went here, and for these students who went on to come back and share with our students is wonderful.”
Magoffin County High School Senior Kayleigh Lemaster said she felt much older than she did before the visit, but loved the opportunity.
“I got to come back to my old school and see all the little Kindergartners who are where I was a few years ago,” Lemaster said. “It was a good experience and they were all so sweet and cute,” Lemaster said.
Senior Coltin Valandingham said, “You can tell that they look up to you, they laugh and say they’ll miss you, they’re your best friends, and all that, so they look up to you, for sure.”
Kindergartners took the pledge to try their hardest in all subjects and to come to school.
