Clancy kicks off summer

The annual summer reading program is back and started off with a bang Tuesday as Clancy science teacher Ryan Hannahoe used liquid nitrogen and hot water to blast a garbage can over 50 feet into the air. Friends of the Library North, who fund the Summer Reading program and put together the event said, “We wanted the Kickoff Party to focus on fun, science, and of course books, as kids from one to ninety-two enjoyed getting excited about reading this summer.” 

Not only did the theme of the kick-off party showcase science at its kid-electrifying best (explosions), so does the theme of this year’s summer reading – Building a Better World. The prizes and weekly activities will center on using science and citizenship to make the world around us a better place. Participants have the opportunity to learn about building hovercraft, growing flowers, or broadening their minds with puzzles and unique crafts. 

They will also reap the benefits of maintaining their literacy skills over the summer. Scholastic reports that school children who have access to well developed libraries consistently score from 10-18 percent higher on reading and other tests. Studies reported in the School Library Journal have shown that there is a 15 percent increase in the number of students reading above grade level among children who participate in a Summer Reading Program. If you missed out on the first week festivities, don’t worry.