Rocket launches Ironwood students into literacy challenge

IRONWOOD - Students at Luther L. Wright School in Ironwood participated in a "Lift Off to Literacy" event Monday, which also marked International Literacy Day.

Elementary, middle and high school students filled the bleachers at the football field to witness a rocket being launched by teachers Doug Foley and Paul Mattson and students Austin Danielson and Michael Newberry.

The high school band was also in attendance and performed the school song.

"The kids were well behaved and participatory, so I think this launch event was a success," middle-high school principal Michelle Kanipes said. "The kids had fun."

The school asked students to pledge an extra 60 seconds per day toward literacy skills for the next 60 days. Skills include reading, writing, listening and speaking, and teachers have been presented ideas on how to promote literacy in the classroom.

A global nonprofit called the International Reading Association created the program in 1965. More than 780 million adults worldwide (two-thirds of them women) do not know how to read or write. Also worldwide, between 94 million and 115 million children lack access to education.

According to Kanipes, the event ties in with regulations by the Michigan Department of Education to push literacy in the classroom.

"Literacy is more important than ever for kids," Kanipes said. "We want to make sure we have literate students."