Students and their adult guests had the opportunity to attend two reading events.

Special guest Iowa Honey Queen 2017 Carly Raye Vannoy gave a presentation on honey bees, their lives and their importance in our lives.

Following the presentation, Queen Carly took part in an interpretative reading of “The Buzz On Bees” with Alivia Wahlert, Trinity Carter, Rylee Keehn, Brooklyn Watson and Shiloh Betts.

At the second event, Leslie Pralle Keehn, Prairie Lakes AEA Instructional Technology Consultant, read “How to Trap a Leprechaun” by Sue Fliess.

Students were given a challenge to capture a leprechaun at the Northeast Hamilton Reading Night last Thursday. They listened to a story about how to trap a leprechaun and were invited to design their own contraption.

Following the reading, she challenged the young listeners and their companions to create their own leprechaun trap.

“This is going very well,” said Pralle Keehn, as the room was abuzz with conversations on how to design the best snare. “The students are very engaged.”

She noted that some of the students were building snares and snap traps. One student used his imagination in baiting his trap.

“He made a girl leprechaun to attract the boy leprechaun,” she explained.

“It has been a really good turn out,” said NEH Principal Mike Kruger. “It’s really been a good time”.

Working with Title 1 Reading Teacher Laura Seiser, the event is designed to engage students in reading activities, said Pralle Keehn. To further the experience, adults were given a handout with more activities they can try at home.

“This is an opportunity to build an on-going learning experience,” said Pralle Keehn. She cited studies which show that family participation plays an important part in the learning process and in the development of successful students.