By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Grafton – Twenty-five special guests were welcomed April 27 by second- to sixth-graders at North Street Elementary School (NSES) for the sixth annual Community Reading Day, organized by the North Grafton Elementary Schools Parent Teacher Group. Most books were selected because they relate to the students’ curriculum or the readers’ professions; others were chosen and brought by the guests.
Reading to second-graders were Police Chief Normand Crepeau; Dan Crossin, vice president of real estate lending at Homefield Credit Union (HCU); Jonathan Kelly, assistant principal of Grafton High School (GHS); Laura Often, School Committee member; and Doreen Parker, principal of SGES.
Third-graders heard stories read by Donna Bates-Tarrant, cataloger at the Grafton Public Library (GPL); Steve Beckwith, owner of Beckwith Strings; Joseph Lachapelle, Grafton postmaster; James Pignataro, principal of GHS; and Joanne Stocklin, principal of Millbury Street Elementary School (MSES).
Community leaders reading in fourth-grade classrooms were Alison Angell of Grafton Farmers Market; Mary Coakley, assistant principal of MSES; Dr. Catherine Mark of VCA Northboro Animal Hospital; Jana Rychlik, owner of Swirls & Scoops; and Nancy Therrien, president of Grafton Historical Society.
Reading to fifth-graders were Carol Dauphinais, board secretary of Grafton Land Trust; Lloyd Hamm Jr., president and CEO of HCU; state Rep. David Muradian, R-Grafton; Selectman Jennifer Thomas; and Dr. Cynthia Webster, professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Sixth-graders heard books read by Superintendent Dr. James Cummings; Valerie Evans, children’s library assistant at GPL; state Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury; and Barry Hillerstrom, regional director of Uno Restaurant Corp.
Community Reading Day was founded by Michelle Tynan, former principal of North Grafton Elementary School and now kindergarten teacher at SGES. The tradition continues at NSES with the support of Jen Mannion, principal, and Julie Flynn, assistant principal. (Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.)
