Parents,

It’s that time of year again; school is almost out and summer reading is on! This year Darlington is excited to once again offer a summer reading program that allows students to serve a great cause and earn prizes at the same time. Read Across Rome is a marathon style program that uses minutes instead of miles to raise money for a good cause. This year, Darlington has chosen to support Cal’s Library, an organization that helps develop critical literacy skills in children from birth to age 5.

Every minute students read this summer will raise money for Cal’s Library. Students only need to log their minutes reading (or being read to!) on their tracking form and turn them in at the beginning of the school year. Darlington Library will calculate all minutes read and make a donation to Cal’s Library based on the total minutes read. We are asking all students to set a goal of 1,000 minutes of reading this summer, but any amount of time spent reading helps us reach our goal. 

As a fun extra, we’re inviting our students to visit some of the most “Bookish” places around Rome, and to share a selfie at one of these places. Pictures will be shared and posted around the school at the start of the school year.

We are so pleased to offer this program that not only engages our students and helps a great cause, but also carries our value of Service Beyond Self into the summer months. Our students have always shown a strong sense of service, and we hope that this added incentive will encourage even more students to read. 

With respect, 

Mary-Kate Fowee

Librarian

Darlington School