Photo: Students Meet Principal's Challenge

Last year, it was a pie in the face. This year, Roanoke Avenue Elementary School Principal Tom Payton will be seeing the effects of his "reading challenge" a little longer than in previous years.

In recognition of Reading Week at the school, Payton promised his students that if they read 60,000 minutes out of school this year, he would shave the word "read" into the hair on his head. 

And they did, reading 61,000 minutes in four days. So he held up his end of the bargain.

"Reading Weeks are a great vehicle to promote the love of reading and the use of the library," stated Mr. Payton. "The kids love them, and I don't mind taking a pie in the face or getting a buzz cut if it helps them learn to read!"

Each day during the week, the students participated in the theme of the day:

• Monday: Read a T-Shirt Day
• Tuesday: Team Up and Read Day (Wear a Team Jersey)
• Wednesday: Read a Hat Day
• Thursday: Poem in Your Pocket Day
• Friday: Curl up With a Good Book in Your Pajamas and the READ Assembly