Earning distinction as Pell City’s first private school for Kindergarten through 12th grade, Victory Christian School has been implementing “spiritual emphasis and academic excellence” in classrooms since 1984.

Honoring their mission, “to help Christian parents train their children to be all that God has called them to be,” first graders in Renee Robinson and Kathy McDonald’s classes recently took part in the Graduates of Reading Program.

Introducing the parade of students was Kindergarten teacher Patsy Henley.

“I was so honored when they asked if I would introduce the children,” said Henley. “The look on their face when they start to understand and learn to read with speed and fluency is exciting to me.”

Entertaining the parents, family and friends filled crowd, Robinson and McDonald (along with their students) put on skits and conducted sing-a-longs.

The songs were “Take Me Out to the Library” and “Read Around the Clock.”

The skit was titled, “I Can Do All Things.”

Announcing that all 24 first graders read over 100 books, Robinson said her class read a total of 1,328 while McDonald completed a total of 1,584.

“We have fallen in love with this program,” said Robinson. “It encourages these students to read in a fun way. My husband teaches high school upstairs (at Victory Christian) and he says students tell him they love reading because of this program.”

“I have a passion for reading,” said McDonald. “Our classroom goal was 1,300. The kids were so excited about it that we beat that goal. This program is successful because it instills essential reading skills.”

Next students named their favorite books.

Among the group’s most liked were the Bible, anything by Dr. Seuss, Amelia Bedelia, the Llama Llama series, America Is, Dick and Jane and Once Upon a Potty.

The ceremony concluded by awarding each student with a medallion for achievement and trophies for the top readers from each class.

Robinson’s top readers were: First Place Madison McCay, Second Place Adam Brewer and Third Place Lauren Quesenberry.

McDonald’s top reader were: First Place Anna Crosson, Second Place Lauren Luker and Third Place Reed Martin.

The day concluded by Robinson and McDonald being pied by their students.

For every 100 books each student read, they got to put a pie in their teacher’s face.

Students giggled hysterically as their teachers ended up looking like human sundaes.

Shown through their smiles, Robinson and McDonald felt successful in their quest to make reading fun.

Congratulations graduates!