Telegraph photo by GRACE PECCI Nashua School District Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools Garth McKinney reads a Dr. Seuss classic, “Green Eggs and Ham,” to Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School students Friday morning to celebrate the Read Across America program.

Throughout this week, community members such as Mayor Jim Donchess, Nashua Librarian Kathy Bolton, police officers, firefighters, and school administrators visited classrooms to read stories. Dr. Crisp Principal Cherrie Fulton said the school also had certain times during the week at which an announcement would be made for students to “drop everything and read.”

The week of celebration came to a close Friday morning with a schoolwide assembly to recognize top readers in each grade. The assembly began with a story read by Assistant Superintendent Garth McKinney. In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday, McKinney read the popular children’s book “Green Eggs and Ham,” by Dr. Seuss. Once finished, McKinney encouraged the students keep reading.

Third-grade teacher Ashlee Cataldo, a key player in bringing Read Across America to Dr. Crisp, and school student council members presented prizes to the top readers.

Cataldo said this is the third year Read Across America has been a school-wide celebration. Students participated in several challenges to test how many minutes they read. They also celebrated by decorating classroom doors with Dr. Seuss decals. Cataldo said she was so impressed by the doors that they had to put all names in a hat and pick out four winners to receive a random prize. Three students also received prizes for continuing the school’s kindness campaign. These students were concerned that one classroom’s door would not get decorated, as the teacher had been out, and took it upon themselves to help.

Telegraph photo by GRACE PECCI From left, Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School third-graders Alex O’Brien, Danielle Hernandez, Sheridan Walsh and Lacie Oakes are recognized Friday as top readers in third-grade teacher Ashlee Cataldo’s class. The school celebrated the Read Across America program, along with Dr. Seuss week.

“It was really cool to for the kids to see community members reading,” Cataldo said, adding that a goal of the week was to instill a love of reading with the students.

“We want them to be engaged students and passionate readers,” Cataldo said.