Franklin County, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter, Russellville, Z - News Main
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:16 pm Tuesday, June 3, 2014

TES holds ‘Oz’some celebration

TES staff members dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz to celebrate their reading program.

TES staff members dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz to celebrate their reading program.

Tharptown Elementary School took a trip down the Yellow Brick Road at the end of the school year as students and faculty celebrated a year’s worth of reading.

TES held a school-wide assembly on May 15 to celebrate the culmination of their year-long reading program, “Reading is Totally ‘Oz’some!” – a concept created by school literact coach Susie Stockton, who played the role of Oz.

“This is the third year we have had the reading program and each year has had its own theme,” Stockton said.

“This year’s theme was chosen in tribute to celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the movie The Wizard of Oz.

“The students participated in several school-wide “OZ” reading activities throughout the school year. Reading is a high priority at TES.”

At the beginning of the program, Stockton said Jessica Cantrell, first grade teacher, dressed as the character Dorothy and sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as a tribute to the movie.

Danna Garrison, kindergarten teacher, sang, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” as characters acted out the scene but skipped off to “read a good book, a wonderful, wonderful book” instead of off to see the Wizard.

There were also special readings by the Scarecrow, Shayna Hudson, the Tin Man, Michelle Puryear, and the Lion, Nichole Ergle, as a way to encourage the students to have courage, to have a heart of gold, and to make good decisions in life.

One student from each homeroom was given the ‘Oz’some Achiever Award for the most improved in reading. Those students included: Abby Wilson, Cole McDonald, Malia McCullar, Kobe Warhurst, Elena Luca, Shyla Martinez, Kaleigh Massey, Maddie Gibson, Noah Capelton, Kaeda Celestino, Hunter Reynolds, Alyvia Kelley, Gunner Daugherty, Dannie Gooch, Andrew Huston, Viviana Aguirre, Berenice Bahena, Kaitlyn Cox, and Gunner Lane.

All A’s Awards were given to the students who made 90 percent or above on each weekly reading test. Those students included: Maci  Calhoun, Will Daily, Miranda Gutierrez, Leonela Vela Jaquez, Draven West, Autumn Till, Cameron Cassel, Chelsea Delk, Jaden Dyar, Giselle Sarabia, Katie Scott, Leilani Calderon, Nick Galloway, Clayton Harper, Isabella Hall, Braycen Johnson, Kacen McHenry, Tatiana Migueis, Amos Morgan, Sanyaa Ricketts, Abby Wilson, Lexi Peeden, Addison Gasque, Neyland Baker, Dacota Green, Riley Lawrence, Brayden Hall, Dylan Dolley, Paisley Holaway, Melissa Aparisio, Bryson Poss, Kourtney Brown, Presley Laster, Kyndall Morgan, Brayden Malone, Autumn Montgomery, Tyler Amos and Bernardo Castillo.

All A’s and B’s Awards were given to students who made a combination of 80 percent or 90 percent above on each weekly reading test. Those students included: Jonathan Brown, Jayden Partain, Mike Promotor, Halie Pounders, Laura Belle Ergle, Alyssa Fischer, Charlie Sue Montgomery, Kevin Serafin, Edgar Perez, Gabriel Hernandez, Luis Ramirez, Ricardo Gutierrez, Lydia Garrison, Talina Romans, Janie Clement, Shyla Martinez, Cornelio Balbuena, Yuliana Vera Ponce, Braisly Barboza, Graycee Huffstutler, Ethan Marion, Abbey Poore, Karly Terry, Brody Tyra, Daniel DelaSancha, Edwin Vela, Jackson Clement, Dawson Higgins, Sarah Kate Kiel, Landon McClellan, Jacob Pointer, Joshua Reed, Krymson Tverberg, Tilmon Baker, Danielle Cassel, Landen Borden, Malachi Gholston, Jacob Herring, Abel Melton, Skyler Poore, Evan Davis, J.T. Thompson, Taylor Celestino, Dillan Wingo, Leslie Staggs, Zack Wallace, Katlyn Smith, Matthew Mears, Bethany Gasque, Luke Garrison, Ethan Pennington, Ty Martin and Orlando Hernandez.

Stockton said 25 names of students that had made an A or B on every weekly reading test were drawn to throw a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch, played by TES principal Ann Scott, to try to melt her.

The first name drawn, Perla Sandoval, won a $50 gift card and was the first one to throw a bucket of water on Scott.

“Overall, the program was very successful,” Stockton said.

“Our goal is to encourage and motivate students to be life-long readers and to have a love for reading.”

Also on Franklin County Times
County school board adopts $52M budget
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE Franklin County Schools has adopted a $52 million budget for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a $2.5 million increase over last year. The bud...
Judge denies YO status for Phinizee
Main, News, Z - News Main
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 17, 2025
FLORENCE — Youthful offender status was denied Tuesday for a 17-year-old charged with the death of a 13-yearold during what authorities said was a rob...
RCS passes $43.3M budget
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- The city school board has approved a $43.3 million budget for the 2025-26 school year. Chief Financial Officer Lisa Witt said revenues...
Program tackles stress of caregiver burnout
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- Many people deal with caregiver burnout. Kids and Kin childcare partner Marquita Wilson presented a program at the Russellville Public...
Flavil Wayne McCaig
Obituaries
September 17, 2025
Flavil Wayne McCaig Sept. 12, 2025   Flavil Wayne McCaig, 82, of Russellville, passed away Sept. 12 at his residence. He was born March 3, 1943, to Au...
Cultura Garden Club begins its year with roses and plans for fall
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
September 17, 2025
The Cultura Garden Club held its first meeting of the year. President Cheri McCain presided. She provided information on projects and programs for the...
We can’t afford to lose electric vehicle industry
Columnists, Opinion
September 17, 2025
In Alabama, we understand what it means to build things that matter. We’ve long been home to builders and winners – our steel won wars and built the s...
Firefighters, cadets honor 9/11 with stair climbs
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Firefighters and RHS JROTC cadets participated in a stair climb in recognition of the 24th anniversary of 9-11. Sgt. Grant Tarascou and...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *