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June 4, 2026

Rhame Avenue students take reading outside for PARP celebration

Rhame Avenue students take reading outside

On Friday, May 29, students at Rhame Avenue Elementary School stepped out of their classrooms and into the sunshine for a special Read Outside session as part of this month's PARP (Pick A Reading Partner) initiative.

The entire student body gathered on Rhame's front lawn, pairing up with a partner to share books and enjoy the beautiful weather. The outdoor reading event brought the spirit of PARP to life in a fun, memorable way, proving that a great book is even better when enjoyed side by side with a friend.

PARP was developed in 1978 by New York State Senator James Donovan around a simple yet powerful idea: that reading is best done together. The program encourages children to partner with someone special in their lives, such as a parent, grandparent, older sibling, babysitter, or friend, to read together for at least 20 minutes each day. By strengthening the connection between home and school, PARP aims to help children develop a lifelong love of reading that extends well beyond the classroom.

Friday's Read Outside session was a fitting way to celebrate that mission, as the entire Rhame community embodied exactly what PARP is all about.

Three children sit on a grassy lawn, looking at books and papers.  A group of young people lie on blankets on a grassy field, enjoying a sunny day.

Several people relax on blankets spread across a sunny, green lawn.  Two people relax on a grassy lawn under the shade of large trees.

People of all ages relax on blankets on a sunny lawn in front of a brick building.  Two young girls with braided hair sit on the grass, facing away from the camera.

A person reads a colorful book to two children sitting on a blanket outdoors.

A young girl with blonde hair tied back reads a book while sitting on a wooden bench outdoors.  Three boys lie on a blanket in the grass, facing away from the camera.