by Dwight Henson
PISD Communications
The Pasadena ISD Office of
Libraries and Instructional Materials awarded trophies to 40 campuses in the district for achieving a high level of student participation in the
Texas Bluebonnet reading program.
The Bluebonnet program encourages students to read more and explore new books across various genres.
Through the statewide program, students in grades 3-6 voted for and reviewed at least five of their favorite Bluebonnet titles using the district’s online voting platform. The votes were submitted to the
Texas Library Association (TLA) and added to the statewide count to determine the Bluebonnet award-winning book and author, to be announced this April at the TLA annual conference in Austin.
Officials were proud of the district’s overall participation in the reading program, with 84 percent of Pasadena ISD students voting (13,063 students) – a significant increase of 59 percent since the 2014-15 school year.
In 2015, seven campuses were honored for a high level of participation. This year, Libraries and Instructional Materials awarded gold and silver trophies to 40 campuses with the highest percentage of participation.
Christine Van Hamersveld, director of libraries and instructional materials, believes the increase can be attributed to participating students being empowered to express opinions on books they have read.
“Seldom do children get the opportunity to voice their opinion and have it count for something,” said Hamersveld. “However, this program has real consequences, as the author of the winning title is recognized at the state level.”
The
Gold winners are:
Bailey Elementary
Freeman Elementary
Gardens Elementary
Garfield Elementary
Jessup Elementary
Kruse Elementary
Laura Welch Bush Elementary
Matthys Elementary
Morales Elementary
Pearl Hall Elementary
South Houston Elementary
Teague Elementary
Turner Elementary
Sparks Elementary
Stuchbery Elementary
South Belt Elementary
Thomas Hancock Elementary
McMasters Elementary
Meador Elementary
Richey Elementary
De Zavala Middle School
Frazier Elementary
Sullivan Middle School
Genoa Elementary
Earnesteen Milstead Middle School
Fisher Elementary
Mae Smythe Elementary
Moore Elementary
Red Bluff Elementary
Carter Lomax Middle School
Rick Schneider Middle School
Golden Acres Elementary
Melillo Middle School
Young Elementary
Pomeroy Elementary
Kendrick Middle School
Burnett Elementary
The
Silver winners are:
South Shaver Elementary
Roberts Middle School
Bobby Shaw Middle School
