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Cecil H. Parker School holds book fair to support summer reading

Student smiling for picture.
Cecil H. Parker School holds book fair to support summer reading

Starting Monday, June 3, 2024, and lasting throughout the week, Cecil H. Parker School held a book fair, and students were encouraged to purchase books and novelty items such as school supplies, posters and toys through an initiative to support reading. Students picked through a wide selection of genres that piqued their interests and put smiles on the faces of students and staff. 

Schools across the Mount Vernon City School District are aiming to push the fundamentals of reading to students. This spring book fair was successful in stocking students’ reading lists to keep them engaged and learning over the summer break. 

“The thing is to get them hyped into reading,” said Isabel Ellis, a retired teaching assistant and frequent volunteer at Parker. “Books will get you far.” 

Students are mainly aiming for popular book series and franchises such as the Dork Diaries, Five Nights at Freddy’s, the Villain series and Minecraft. On Monday, students were given a list of books and toured the library to pick out their wish list. They were then allowed to visit throughout the week to pay for their books and items. 

“My favorite is the Freddy Fazbear books,” said Byrce Suero, a second-grade student at Parker School who has shown lots of excitement for the book fair by purchasing a book every day. “I’m building up my book collection. Today I got the Loud House and the Treasure Hunt book.”

Students viewing books.
Student smiling with his book
Students smiling about books.


 

Parker students celebrate school day
Cecil H. Parker School students and staff celebrate their school

Cecil H. Parker School held a Parker Day celebration Wednesday for its students, who bid farewell to each other with food, music and games – as several former students and retired staffers joined to honor the school for the last time before the school closes at the end of the school year.

Five students wearing bee hats smiling for the camera.
Annual Spelling Bee at Cecil H. Parker School brings community together

Jaani Gordon, a third grader at Cecil H. Parker School, won first place in his division during the annual spelling bee on Friday morning. Scholars marched into the auditorium chanting “The spelling bee is here, the spelling bee is here, at Cecil H. Parker School the spelling bee is here.” The room was buzzing with excitement as loved ones gathered to watch scholars put their knowledge to the test.

Three students point to stuffed animal on desk.
Students in Parker School's 4G class research about different species of animals

Scholars in Julia Gomes-Arias’ fourth-grade classroom at Cecil H. Parker School are currently conducting a research project on different species of animals. Students are working in groups to discover facts about the animals and assemble information to piece together a well-written research report. Ms. Gomes’ students are extremely excited to be working together to write about animals such as harp seals, frogs, sea lions, and cheetahs.

Class smiling for the camera with two members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Scholars at Cecil H. Parker School participate in a read-a-loud with members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

“Who’s a good reader?” asked the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. President Eddie Campbell to students in Ebony Cooper-Williams fourth grade class on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Cecil H. Parker School during their reading celebration. Students shot their hands up in excitement before diving into their read-a-loud session with members of the New Rochelle-White Plains Alumni Chapter. 

Students at Cecil H. Parker show off writing skills at the Winter Literacy Ball
Students at Cecil H. Parker show off writing skills at the Winter Literacy Ball

The gymnasium was filled with clamor and delight as students and parents walked around reading the student writing displayed on the wall and speaking with the authors about their works. On Thursday, December 19, 2024, Cecil H. Parker School held a Winter Literacy Ball where fourth, fifth ,and sixth-grade students got to show off the writing skills they’ve learned and the multiple writing exercises that they’ve completed since the beginning of the year. 

Pre-K students posing with welder in classroom.
Professional welder visits Cecil H. Parker School pre-K classes

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, as part of their unit on community, pre-K classes at Cecil H. Parker School were visited by Juan Almonte, welding instructor and supervisor with the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Mr. Almonte has been welding with the MTA for 25 years. He brought in parts of his safety equipment for scholars to engage with, including his welding helmet, gloves, jacket and apron. Scholars were excited to learn that welders use fire as hot as lightning to melt and repair train tracks for the community.

The Greenburgh Nature Center brings critters to Cecil H. Parker kindergarten class
The Greenburgh Nature Center brings critters to Cecil H. Parker kindergarten class

On Friday, October 25, 2024, students in Ms. Cioffi’s kindergarten class at Cecil H. Parker School were introduced to a variety of different critters from the Greenburgh Nature Center. The center visited Parker to give students an unforgettable hands-on experience. Students interacted with animals such as ferrets, bearded dragons and snakes!