Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 13, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Honor Walla Walla School as February 2004 ‘Reading School of the Month’

Gov. Gary Locke and Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction, today presented Blue Ridge Elementary School in Walla Walla with the “Reading School of the Month” award for February 2004.

“No matter what you want to do when you grow up, you have to start by being a good reader,” Locke told the students. “Reading is the key to all academic success. I am so proud of all the progress Blue Ridge students have made in reading, in a relatively short period of time. You definitely deserve this honor.”

Blue Ridge Elementary is above the state average percentages in reading and mathematics on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Two years ago, the school had scores significantly below state averages. Nearly 89 percent of Blue Ridge students participate in the state’s free or reduced price lunch program.

“You should be very proud of the hard work that has led to such incredible growth in the numbers of students learning to read well,” Bergeson told an all-school assembly. “The teachers and leaders of Blue Ridge have done a great job creating a learning environment filled with energy and excitement. Congratulations on all your success.”

Miss Washington 2003-04 Fianna Dickson also attended the event to talk about the importance of reading.

Locke and Bergeson also read “Tomás and the Library Lady” by Pat Mora to the all-school assembly and presented an autographed copy of the book to the school librarian.

The governor and the superintendent started the “Reading School of the Month” program in January 2002 to raise awareness about the importance of reading and learn how struggling schools made drastic changes to become exemplary reading schools.

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