"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." — Dr. Seuss

“So quiet, you could hear a pin drop” was what Kim Porter, reading specialist at Eleanor Rush Intermediate School, said about the Reading Train that ran through Rush School on Friday morning. All of the students and teachers created a train that lined the hallways, their heads buried in books.

Peggy O’Malley, a fourth grade teacher, was equally impressed with the event.

“I was amazed at how fabulous it went—not a peep from the students,” she said.

Rush School principal Debbie Banecker added, “The Reading Train unified the Rush School community as readers. I would love to continue the reading train throughout the school year.”

Read Across America Week at Rush was jam-packed with projects celebrating reading. Students donned crazy hats and socks, and some ended the week in their pajamas in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Green eggs and ham were served buffet-style in Jen MacNeal’s third grade class, as well as many other classrooms at Rush School and around town.

The Cinnaminson High School boys basketball team read to third and fifth grade students at Rush—one of them even amazed the students with his magic card tricks—while the girls high school lacrosse team read to the fourth graders. Other mystery readers included local heroes Lee Park, a Cinnaminson firefighter, and Lt. Tim Young from the Cinnaminson Police Department.

The fun continued on Monday, with an author visit by Kay Winters. Students and teachers recited poetry and enjoyed Winter’s “Magic of Story” presentation. Some of her books include Abe Lincoln, The Boy who Loved Books, My Teacher for President and Did You See What I Saw?

Porter, who coordinated many of the week’s activities with the rest of the reading team at Rush, added, “It was amazing to see all of our planning and preparation come together.”

The Reading Train swept the school away on a magical ride and it's only the beginning of their journey—oh, the places they will go!