The Stockton Unified School District administrators, including District Librarian MaryAnn K. Pafford, created an incentive program for students to read over this past winter break. Last summer of 2024, they started their first reading program, in which students opened 4,110 books in SORA and spent about 162,770 minutes reading.
Due to the success of the Winter Reading Challenge, Pafford began a Spring Reading Program, which recently concluded.
The top three students who read the most minutes from each grade level received a prize. Prizes included Uno, Bananagrams, a portable Bluetooth speaker, a Stanley mug, Legos, and a solar robot kit. The contest began on Saturday, December 21, and ended on Sunday, January 5. Grade levels TK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 were allowed to participate.
According to Pafford, this program supports student literacy by simplifying reading for enjoyment and entertainment. Quoting reading expert Dr. Keith Stanovich, Pafford said, “The more you read, the better you get. The better you get, the more you read.”
Winter Winners 2025 :
PRE-K-Grade 2: Kenia K. (K), August Elementary School, read 761 minutes; and Alizeth A. (K), Elmwood Elementary School, read 699 minutes.
Grade 3 – 5: Akosua O. (5), Van Buren Elementary School, read 1017 minutes; and Eduardo B.J. (4), Hoover Elementary School, read 985 minutes.
Grade 6 – 8: Hassan A. (6), Rio Calaveras Elementary School, read 1126 minutes; and Alexia C.V. (6), Marshall Elementary School, read 1002 minutes.
Grade 9 – 12: Andrea H.P. (9), Weber Institute, read 3396 minutes; and Arianna P. (10), Stockton Early College Academy, read 3380 minutes.
Spring Winners 2025:
PRE-K-Grade 2: Hussain A. (2), Rio Calaveras Elementary, read 411 minutes; and Leila K. (2), Primary Years Academy, read 387 minutes.
Grade 3-5: Abena O. (3), Van Buren Elementary, read 1243 minutes; and Akosua O. (5), Van Buren Elementary, read 739 minutes.
Grade 6-8: Kalysta W. (6), Rio Calaveras Elementary, read 742 minutes; An Do (6), Commodore Stockton Skills, read 548 minutes; Daniel A. (7), Nightingale Elementary, read 4717 minutes; and Amie A. (7), Hamilton Elementary, read 3447 minutes.
Grade 9-12: Andrea H. M. (9), Weber Institute, read 1611 minutes; and Aleida G. N. (11), Franklin High School, read 999 minutes.