Irma Lemus
RANCHO DISTRICT -- The good doctor was in at St. Finbar School
Thursday. Dr. Suess, that is.
As part of the school's celebration of "Read Across America Day," St.
Finbar students threw a party to mark the 96th birthday of the venerable
children's author Thursday morning and then got down to the
not-so-serious business of reading some of his classics.
About 150 students, from kindergarten to fourth grade, participated in
the celebration, said organizer Lorraine Bellis-Mark. The event was a
first for the school.
"My son attends St. Finbar and, when I found out that the school
wasn't doing anything, I knew I had to do something," Bellis-Mark said.
Third-grader D.J. Holbert, 8, said he enjoyed Burbank Police Officer
Ruben Liscano's rendition of "Yertle The Turtle."
"I read that story before, but I still liked it," said Holbert, who
was particularly pleased to get the chance to speak to a police officer.
"It was fun and we got to ask him questions too," he said.
Liscano, who works with Burbank schools as part of the DARE program,
said he is used to speaking to students, but Thursday's reading made him
nervous. After all, he wasn't that familiar with "Yertle The Turtle."
"After reading it, I really liked it," he said. "I really got into the
story."
"I even want to read it to the guys at the station," Liscano joked.
Bellis-Mark said the success of the event and the high level of
involvement by different segments of the community convinced the school
to take part in "Read America Day" in the future.
"The kids had so much fun that we're pretty sure we'll do it next
year," she said, adding that the children received Dr. Suess bookmarks
for their participation.
Other community members who read to the St. Finbar students Thursday
were Leonora Bellis, past president of the Zonta service club; Darlene
Michener, account executive at PIP Printing in Burbank; Sally Stanley
from Barnes & Noble bookstore; and Chris Rodriguez, a Burbank librarian.
