Crazy hair, crazy socks and crazy costumes were all part of the NEA’s Read Across America celebrations in schools across the Socorro Independent School District. Elementary and K-8 schools celebrated the annual reading event with myriad activities surrounding the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

Students, faculty and staff participated in dress-up days, crazy hair days, a kite day; enjoyed guest readers and birthday cake in honor of Dr. Seuss; decorated school hallways; and invited parents to read with students.

The district’s Curriculum and Instruction Department also had a contest for schools to compile their Read Across America activities into a video or photo presentation. The winners were Desert Wind Elementary, Escontrias Elementary, H.D. Hilley Elementary, Horizon Heights Elementary, Hueco Elementary, Jane A. Hambric School, John Drugan School, Lujan-Chavez Elementary, Robert R. Rojas Elementary, Sierra Vista Elementary and Vista Del Sol Elementary.

Escontrias Elementary students from grades Pre-K to five celebrated a week of events, including a kite day. Principal Marivel Macias said the event, which included parents and community members, emphasized the idea that “at Escontrias we soar beyond excellence.”

“The students and parents are having a great time,” Macias said. “As soon as they return to class they do a little bit of reading together. It’s all in celebration, having fun in everything we do and we put reading first.”

Grandparents took part in the Read Across America celebration, too.

"I think this is a great inspiration for the kids,” said Reginald Ficklin, a grandfather who participated at Escontrias’ kite day. “Reading is the way to the future for the kids so I’m really proud of what they are doing at this stage for them to get inspired.”

As in years passed, the Socorro Educational Association and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction collaborated to ensure the Read Across America celebrations were a success. They collaborated to give each elementary and K-8 campus a variety of artifacts to celebrate the event, including “Cat in the Hat” themed incentives to promote and celebrate reading.

Students at Sierra Vista Elementary got a chance to take pictures and read with the entire cast of characters from the famed Dr. Seuss books. Faculty and staff dressed up like the Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, Horton, Thing 1 and Thing 2 and even the Grinch.

Across the district, students also were able to enjoy videos of community leaders and role models reading cherished Dr. Seuss books and other favorite children’s books. The videos, which were posted on the district’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/SocorroISD), featured El Paso Mayor John Cook, SISD Board Vice President Cynthia Najera, Board Secretary Paul Guerra and UTEP athletes Tori Martyn, Carson Meger and Kayla Thornton.