Burke Elementary School Triumphs in NCAA Reading Challenge
This weekend, as the NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament captivated the attention of countless visitors in San Antonio, local third graders were busy accumulating reading minutes as part of the annual Read to the Final Four initiative.
Burke Elementary Clinches Victory
W.Z. “Doc” Burke Elementary School, located on the city’s northwest side, emerged victorious in this year’s reading challenge. The competition, which took place in a bracket format, allowed 306 local schools to compete for the prestigious title based on the number of reading minutes logged by their third-grade classes.
A total of 89 third graders from Burke Elementary participated, collectively reading an impressive 1,827,419 minutes. This remarkable achievement secured their place in the spotlight as they were announced as winners during a celebratory event at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, coinciding with the kickoff of the college basketball tournament.
The Final Four Contenders
The competition culminated with four finalist schools:
- Burke Elementary (Northside Independent School District)
- Harmony School of Science (charter school)
- Royal Ridge Elementary (North East Independent School District)
- Freedom Elementary School (Southside Independent School District)
Rewards and Recognitions
The reward for Burke Elementary’s triumph includes a $5,000 grant dedicated to a library makeover. Additionally, awards will be given to the runner-up schools and the top individual readers in each of the finalist schools.
The Importance of Reading
Yilsa De Los Santos, the librarian at Burke Elementary, attributed the success to a collaborative effort that allowed students to explore reading in diverse ways.
“Our students left no stone unturned,” De Los Santos stated.
She explained that they implemented various opportunities for reading both inside and outside the classroom. Events were organized after school and on weekends, providing families with the chance to engage in read-aloud sessions or independent reading activities.
Adapting to Modern Literacy Needs
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by today’s “digital babies,” the school offered several digital resources, including:
- Digital databases
- Audiobooks
- Ebooks
“We provided them the tools,” De Los Santos remarked. “But it was their grit and determination that got them here.”
A Community-Wide Initiative
The Read to the Final Four program, which began in 2016, has grown exponentially, with over 27,000 students reading a total of more than 27 million minutes across 1,300 classrooms this year. This initiative encourages a love for reading while allowing students to participate in the excitement of March Madness at no additional cost.
Linda Childs, a children’s librarian with the San Antonio Public Library, emphasized the broader implications of reading for children. She stated,
“So many things depend on your being able to read and being able to communicate.”
She noted that early reading builds a strong foundation, reducing the likelihood of children engaging in risky behaviors.
In Closing
With initiatives like Read to the Final Four, schools are fostering a vibrant culture of reading and academic achievement, inspiring young learners to cultivate their literacy skills while celebrating their community’s shared passions.
