On Friday, March 23, York Country Day’s Lower School celebrated the end of their 50-day reading challenge, as Lower School students paraded their 1,869 link “reading chain” through the Middle and Upper Schools. Beginning in mid-January, students undertook the challenge to read enough books to build a paper chain that would wrap around both wings of the Lower School. For each book they finished, students were allowed to add one link to the paper chain.

Chrissa May, Lower School librarian and creator of the challenge, said that teachers hoped it would make reading a regular activity for students, based on the scientific evidence that it takes 30 days to develop a habit. Students took to the challenge immediately, turning in their paper links daily. Teachers attached up to 85 links in a single school day. Ms. May says that the challenge has definitely inspired students to read more often. She recalls a student after the parade who told her proudly: “I’m still reading!”

Reading chain at York Country Day School

Locals students were among the winners of the 2012 South Central Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, sponsored by Commonwealth Connections Academy.

Chosen from more than 1,100 entries, 350 students from public, private, home and charter schools were awarded gold and silver keys and honorable mentions.

The nationally recognized program awards students for their creative excellence in 28 categories ranging from poetry to journalism and painting to comic art. Students in grades 7 to 12 in York, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lebanon and Perry counties were eligible to compete.

Winning artwork will also be on display at local events as well as public readings of winning writing entries:
A reading and art show, Feb. 25 at The Thought Lot, Shippensburg.
Art exhibit, March 2 at Lebanon’s First Friday Art Walk.
A reading, March 16 at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg.
Month-long exhibit opening March 16 at HACC’s Midtown campus.

Students who received gold keys will have their work advanced to the national level.

York County middle school winners are: