Gig Harbor Academy students serve up a batch of Seuss

Hugh McMillan

special to the Gateway

The “Welcome” handout offered to each parent entering Dr. Seuss’ Readers’ Cafe at the Gig Harbor Academy was in the form of a menu.

It offered “Today’s Specials,” “The Foot Book, a sweet treat for you AND your feet” by Brandon Hitchcock.

“Green Eggs and Ham” were dished up by Megan Fragasso, and Carter Lawler served “Too Many Daves,” asking, “can there really be too many Daves?”

The wait staff were first-graders under the direction of their teacher, JoAnn “Mrs. J.” Johnson.

Robin Javid produced “The Cat in the Hat, a deliciously delightful tale,” followed by classmate Nicholas Lavinder’s “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back,” which he said was “a story good enough to serve again.”

Ashleigh Bernard cautioned: “Please no hopping on pop here in the Readers Cafe,” as she read her rendition of “Hop On Pop,” and fellow first-grader Cameron Dickens claimed “My Many Colored Days” was a “colorful tale for your ears AND eyes!”

Isabel Puratich wound up the readings with “Great Day for UP,” noting that “Every day’s a good day for up!”

Mrs J. celebrated Dr. Seuss by inviting staff, fellow students and families to “Dine on Dr. Seuss.”

First-graders greeted their “guests” at the classroom door and offered the above menu. After guests selected their “meal,” they were seated at a table to “feast on Dr. Seuss” as first-graders read to them from the stories they chose.

Diners “tipped” their servers with drawings inspired by Seuss stories.

Mrs. J. said the kids spent a month studying the distinctive life and writing style of Dr. Seuss in celebration of the author’s birthday.

“The students are very proud of how they have learned to read with expression and excitement that has developed from their love for reading along with the creative writing style of Dr. Seuss,” she said.

First-grader Katie Babson wrote: “This was the most fun EVER!”

Classmate Mason Snow “liked reading the WHOLE book for my mom and dad.”

Robin Javid’s favorite part was “practicing reading my book,” while Thomas Dean “liked picking out a book for little kids to listen to.”

“The whole class loved Dr. Seuss!” Mrs. J. wrote.

Vince Fragasso, head of the school, described Gig Harbor Academy as “an independent private school for preschool through fifth grade, having a strong focus on community, stewardship of the environment and critical thinking, in addition to a challenging core curriculum program.

“GHA students receive a well-rounded education that includes time with specialists in Spanish, P.E./Health, Art, Music and Technology,” he said.

For more information, call Jes Thompson, director of admission and advancement, at 253-265-2150 or e-mail admissions@gigharboracademy.org.

Hugh McMillan is a longtime freelance writer for The Peninsula Gateway. He can be reached at 253-884-3319.