Newton Preschoolers Set Reading Record with Congressman Kennedy

November 19, 2019 – Bright Horizons at Newton hosted Congressman Joe Kennedy III for Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, the annual celebration to raise awareness of the importance of early literacy.

"Literature can do so much more than tell a story, it can give kids the courage, curiosity and knowledge necessary to find their path in our world. By reading Thank You, Omu! together around the globe for Read for the Record, we can show kids that there is far more that unites us than divides us. Being able to play a small role in this celebration at an extraordinary organization like Bright Horizons made today even more memorable and meaningful," said Congressman Joe Kennedy III.

After the reading, the class presented Congressman Kennedy with a signed copy of the book so that he could also share the story of Omu with his own children. Before leaving, the children swarmed him with requests for high fives as he signed a copy of the book for the class to keep.

"It was an honor to host Congressman Kennedy III for our 'Read for the Record' celebration. The children were so excited to meet him and have a special reading of Thank You, Omu!" said Bright Horizons at Newton Center Director Stacey Giancioppo. "We know that the best way to foster a love for reading and motivate children to learn to read is by adults reading to them frequently, and so having the Congressman visit was meaningful in many ways."

At Bright Horizons, through the Language Works curriculum, students are in a literacy rich environment in which love of language, books, and reading is cultivated through listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and the annual Read for the Record celebration fits perfectly into this curriculum.

Read the full story in the Newton Tab here.