The SRVEF Read-a-Thon has just concluded its fifth year!

Throughout the month of February, students at MV and all other participating schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District read for a chance to raise money for their schools’ English departments. They also had the opportunity to earn prizes for doing so.

“It encourages kids to read and helps support the department,” English teacher Barbara Buckley said. “Those are two good things. It’s a double benefit.”

Gale Ranch Middle School was the top reading school with the highest participation; 73% of all the students read. They had the second most minutes read (714, 272), only behind Quail Run, which was the leader in both minutes read (901,371) and money raised.  Quail Run raised $9,015. Monte Vista was second in money raised at $8,522.

The money raised by MV students will go toward improving the English department.

“Anything that encourages reading and supports schools is a worthy effort,” English teacher Kimberley Gilles said.

With all of the essentially “required” donations for science classes along with the other requested donations for the numerous electives MV has to offer, the library, sports, and other classes, English is a usually forgotten class when it comes to donations.

Some people do not see a reason to donate to English classes. After all, unlike science where there is constantly new information being discovered, English is a subject in which old material does not become outdated.

This is not true. English is a very important class that needs continued support from the ever-gracious parents, students, and special programs.

“If it’s ten cents, it’s ten cents,” Buckley said, although she encourages students to donate as much as they can.

Without donations to the English department, students will read from books that are falling apart, and, more importantly, will never be able to experience new literature as it comes into existence.

The read-a-thon is also a good chance for students to catch up on their reading, not just for school, but for themselves.

“ I think kids don’t have time to read outside of school,” Buckley said. “This is a good opportunity for them to read.”

Although many students love reading, not everyone does.

“I would like to get kids to want to read despite the fact that most feel burdened with reading,” Buckley said. “I want them to deal with whatever issue is in the way.”

SRVEF provides just this opportunity while also giving students incentives.

“I want kids to read,” Buckley said. “I want them to not hate it.”