Reading Initiative
At Melissa Schools, we “Grow Through the Pages”. Our students and staff developed a branded reading initiative in Fall 2016 with one goal: to encourage reading in all. Scroll down to see how the initiative has evolved and to learn about our reading projects. We hope you’ll join us as we #Read2Grow.
Annual Reading Events
Melissa Reading Festival
The Melissa Reading Festival is hosted at Harry McKillop Elementary and features a helicopter landing, live music, local vendors, reading performances, and classroom read-alouds and activities.
Read Under the Stars
Read Under the Stars invites families to read underneath the Melissa stars at Cardinal Stadium. The only requirement to enter the stadium is a book to read. Flashlights and glow-in-the-dark wristbands are given away to readers.
Read Across America
Students and staff at Melissa Schools celebrate reading each year on March 2 as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Reading News
See All #Read2Grow News Articles
Mar. 16, 2018: $38,000 grant awarded by Region 10; Funds to benefit literacy program at Melissa Schools
Feb. 26, 2018: Harry McKillop Elementary receives $5,000 grant from Melissa Education Foundation
Dec. 1, 2017: Melissa families “Read Under the Stars” at Cardinal Stadium
Nov. 7, 2017: Children’s author Patricia Polacco visits elementary students, teachers in Melissa
Nov. 3, 2017: Photo Gallery: Second Annual Melissa Reading Festival
May 30, 2017: Harry McKillop Elementary celebrates #Read2Grow Day
March 31, 2017: Melissa Masonic Lodge donates $1,500 for classroom novels
March 23, 2017: McKillop celebrates Career Day with guest speakers; Rotary donates dictionaries
March 2, 2017: Melissa Schools students and teachers #Read2Grow on Read Across America Day
Feb. 7, 2017: Students work to promote reading in Melissa (via the Anna-Melissa Tribune)
Jan. 18, 2017: Melissa students invite peers, community to “Grow Through the Pages”
Nov. 16, 2016: Melissa Schools students, teachers begin development of district-wide Reading Initiative
#Read2Grow … Every Day
Here are some of our favorite photos from this morning, when our high school Spanish 3 students visited our 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms to read stories. #Read2Grow #HMEproud #MelissaSchools #MHSstrong pic.twitter.com/X6TbO44Qqa
— Melissa ISD (@melissaisd) May 24, 2018
Chemistry with Dr. Seuss! Melissa High School students made Oobleck in Chemistry classes today! #MHSstrong #Read2Grow #ReadAcrossAmerica pic.twitter.com/v5hw6HbPSa
— Melissa HS Library (@MHSCardsLibrary) March 2, 2018
This teacher has an especially happy heart this Valentine’s Day…. A volunteer to take over our cause and effect lesson. She did great! #HMEproud #Read2grow pic.twitter.com/kXZLpr4Nsm
— sstapel (@sgstapel) February 14, 2018
Third grade student Ronin Craven shares why he loves to #Read2Grow. Ronin is currently reading THE BLOB THAT ATE EVERYONE by R.L. Stine. His favorite books are scary stories, graphic novels, and science fiction. #ReadAcrossAmerica #HMEproud pic.twitter.com/wXhMwlHoNW
— Harry McKillop Elementary (@HMECardinals) March 2, 2018
Student Photo of the Week: “World Class Readers” by @MHSCards sophomore Jacob Barker. https://t.co/MkQtmBvq78 #Read2Grow #MelissaSchools pic.twitter.com/wUZgxnPvmP
— Melissa ISD (@melissaisd) September 15, 2017
We love to read! #LearningWithLarkin #HMEproud #read2grow pic.twitter.com/2S8AN6eBH9
— Emily Larkin (@elarkinHME) September 6, 2017
4th-8th graders got a lesson on how to find series & sequels. If you teach it…they will come and use it. #Read2Grow pic.twitter.com/wX7C8TBWvx
— MRI/MMSCardsLibrary (@mri_mmslibrary) March 24, 2017
We had a wonderful mystery reader today! #HMEproud #Read2Grow #grauesgreatgroup1718 Thank you, Mr. Poole! pic.twitter.com/AP9bFkdUlA
— Mrs. Graue (@MrsGraue) September 2, 2017
#HMEproud Commitment of 65 Third Graders eating lunch and Reading #Read2Grow! pic.twitter.com/rRlf7lXepP
— McKillop Elementary (@HMECardinals) March 20, 2017
About the Initiative
Over 30 students and faculty representing grades K-12 came together in November and December 2016 to develop a branded reading initiative for Melissa Schools.
The end goal of our district initiative is simple: promote and encourage reading in all. We aim to reach students, teachers, parents, and family and community members in Melissa, Texas and beyond as we spread our message.
Our Brand
We used a collaborative approach as we developed our reading initiative brand. We held two meetings where students and faculty brainstormed and presented ideas, ultimately coming up with a universal logo and slogan that we feel will last over time.
We presented our brand to the Melissa Schools Board of Trustees on January 12, 2017.
Logo: A tree with green leaves, brown branches, and roots that connect to a red open book
Slogan: Grow Through the Pages
Hashtag: #Read2Grow
Student Participants
Sophia Alvarez, Landon Bartlett, Jossalyn Blake, Jack Clemans, Lleyton Costilla, Mikayla Coyner, Cooper Crawford, Alicia Enoch, Anna Gressett, Brooke Gorry-Pettit, Katie Hicks, Harkamal Kaur, Noah Lakey, Jonah Lanz, Aria Lewellen, Emily Madonna, Lauren Nager, Emma Piyakhun, Rylee Reddick, Rosie Ruiz, Abigail Schaffer, and Lydia Thompson
Faculty Mentors
Kim Boedeker, Lyssa Broach, Sharon Carroll, Jerad Castor, Maddie Coe, Christina King, Leanne Vargas, and Krissy Womack
