Pine Bush Elementary School celebrated its 11th annual summer reading challenge with certificates and gifts for the 82 students who successfully completed the challenge.

Here’s how it worked: students had to read for a minimum of 40 days in July and August. Students in grades 1 and 2 were required to read at least 20 minutes each day while those in grades 3, 4 and 5 read for at least 30 minutes.

They checked off the days on a special calendar and returned the calendars to librarian Lisa Ruyack in September. Each student who successfully completed the summer reading challenge received a certificate, a brag tag for their backpack that says “Reading Rocks” and  a cool pencil. In addition, each student got to choose a book and a magazine.

“I developed the program years ago because my professional goal has always been to increase reading outside the school day,” said Ms. Ruyack. “We can control what and how much students read IN school, but what happens at home is where the impact really takes on steam.”

The effects were obvious Tuesday morning as the students gathered in the PBE library with their certificates, very excited to choose their prizes. “Reading is so much fun,” said one student as she left.

This challenge is now part of all elementary schools in the Pine Bush district.