Number of Participants: 200
Hours Donated: 3
Value of Time Served: $20,874
Event Type: Education & Literacy
Activity: Schools
School: Shaker High School
Date: March 2, 2026
Location:
Shaker High School
Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham
NY
About:
Nearly 200 students from Shaker High School recently stepped into leadership and mentorship roles to help bring the joy of reading to younger learners throughout the North Colonie Central School District in celebration of National Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2.
As part of this district-wide initiative, high school volunteers visited all six elementary schools, connecting with approximately 1,500 elementary students through engaging literacy activities designed to make reading both fun and memorable.
Students involved in the Shaker High School Writing Center, Literature in Education classes, and the National English Honor Society played a key role in leading the effort. Prior to the event, student leaders participated in training sessions to prepare for their responsibilities, which included facilitating classroom read-alouds, managing activity rotations, and guiding discussions with younger students.
Throughout the day, volunteers hosted a variety of interactive literacy stations. Elementary students took part in bookmark creation activities, contributed to a collaborative “We Love to Read Because…” poster, and engaged in a movement-based storytelling experience known as Story in Motion. High school students also participated in question-and-answer sessions, offering elementary learners the opportunity to build connections with older role models and learn more about their future school experiences.
The initiative was a highly collaborative effort involving the Shaker High School library, six elementary school librarians, and multiple high school teachers who helped coordinate schedules, classroom placements, and on-site support. Each high school participant contributed approximately 2.5 to 3 hours of service, resulting in an estimated 500 to 600 total volunteer hours.
The event was designed not only to promote literacy, but also to strengthen connections across grade levels within the district. Elementary students were energized by the opportunity to interact with high school mentors, while the volunteers gained valuable leadership experience and a deeper appreciation for the impact of service.
By creating meaningful opportunities for mentorship and community engagement, Shaker High School students demonstrated how education, leadership, and service can come together to make a lasting difference. The success of this year’s Read Across America celebration has created strong momentum for the initiative to continue and grow in the future.
