Hundreds of local students got some Seuss-style inspiration today when they were paid a special visit by the famous feline, the Cat in the Hat, as part of the National Education Association’s Cat-a-Van Reading Tour, which hit the road on February 24 and will conclude on March 14.
“The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) is honored to partner with its visionary parent organization, the National Education Association, as well as Renaissance Dental, in this fun event that reminds children about two things they should make time for every single day – brushing their teeth and reading,” said Jackie B. Hicks, President of The SCEA. “Since childhood, I’ve been enchanted by books, and I wish the same for all children. But children aren’t likely to read much if they don’t feel well. That’s why education about dental health is so important. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related problems. Let’s keep our children healthy; let’s keep our children in school and reading.”
The Cat-a-Van Reading Tour, sponsored by the National Education Association and Renaissance Dental, is designed to get kids excited about reading and oral hygiene. Columbia-area public schools that received a special Cat-a-Van visit included Bradley Elementary School in Richland School District One and Joseph Keels Elementary in Richland School District Two.
“Today was a great day for all the kids who were visited by the Cat-a-Van Reading Tour,” said Andy Berli, an account executive with Renaissance Dental. “As a sponsor of this year’s Read Across America celebrations, Renaissance Dental is pleased to be able to help educate kids about the importance of oral health and reading in a fun and exciting way.”
More than 30,000 special stovepipe “reading” hats, books, toothbrushes, and other goodies were distributed during the NEA’s Cat-a-Van Reading Tour to keep students reading and brushing their teeth at home. NEA and Renaissance Dental officials also delivered grants of $500 each to the libraries and media centers of the schools visited to help keep their libraries stocked with books and other reading inspiration, courtesy of Renaissance Dental.
The Cat-a-Van Reading Tour will log more than 4,000 miles by traveling to 38 schools in more than 20 cities through eight states—visiting thousands of school children along the way. Stops along the Cat-a-Van reading route include Donna, Texas; Edinburgh, Texas, Laredo, Texas; San Antonio; Austin; Midwest City, Okla.; Shawnee, Okla.; Livonia, Mich.; Southfield, Mich.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Indianapolis; Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; Columbia, S.C.; Augusta, Ga.; Dublin, Ga.; Macon, Ga.; the greater Atlanta area; and Jackson, Miss.
“Wherever students want to go, good reading skills can help make the journey easier and fun,” said NEA Executive Committee Member Earl Wiman, who participated in the Cat-a-Van Reading Tour stop in Columbia. “Because NEA’s Read Across America helps make reading fun, students want to be in the company of good books—again and again.”
Founded by NEA and Dr. Seuss Enterprises L.P., NEA’s Read Across America is designed to get kids excited about reading. More than 45 million children and adults nationwide are expected to participate this year.