Over the past week and a half, Jarrettown Elementary was buzzing with excitement as we held our First Annual Masked Reader event. A group of good-spirited staff members bravely donned some truly ridiculous animal masks and recorded themselves reading one of their favorite children’s books. Each morning, students watched a new video and tried to guess which staff member was hiding behind the mask.
The guessing quickly became the talk of the building. In classrooms, hallways, and the cafeteria, students debated their theories and listened closely for clues in voices, mannerisms, and book choices. The mystery—and the laughter—built each day as more readers were revealed.
The fun culminated on Friday during our Positive Behavior Celebration assembly, when all of the masked readers were revealed. One by one, each “animal” emerged from behind the curtain to cheers, laughter, and plenty of surprised reactions from the students. The energy in the gym was something special.
To make the moment even more memorable, Mr. Laird created the images below of each reader. I’m still not entirely sure how Mrs. DuPrey managed to look like she simply had her face painted at a carnival while the rest of us look more like the results of some questionable genetic experiments—but that only added to the fun.
This may have been one of the most joyful weeks we’ve had as a school community all year. What I loved most was seeing students and adults laughing together. Our days at school are full and busy, and we work hard every single day. It felt wonderful to pause, share a little silliness, and celebrate the joy that reading—and community—can bring.
Thank you to all of our staff members who were willing to look a little ridiculous for the sake of fun, and to our students for bringing such enthusiasm and curiosity to the challenge. Events like this remind me just how special the Jarrettown community truly is.
Proud to be a Dragon (and a parrot)
