Naugatuck Catholic Students Recognized for Hitting the Books This Summer

Getting through 50,000 pages of summer reading is, by all means, no small feat.

But that’s exactly what a group of 28 Grade 6-8 students from St. Francis-St. Hedwig School did the past three months, as the students worked towards meeting Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s 2011 Summer Reading Challenge.

On Friday, 120 Catholic school students — comprising over half of the K-8 student body — were honored with certificates for completing the requirements of the governor’s reading challenge.

“This is going to make you better readers, better educated and smarter boys and girls,” said Principal John Salatto, congratulating the dozens of students gathered in the gym for a 10 a.m. ceremony.

The upper-level students were recognized by the number of pages read, while the grades K-5 were recognized by book count.

The 28 grade 6-8 students had collectively read a total of 50,550 pages, while the 92 K-5 students that completed the challenge read a grand total of 747 books, said Wanda Mascola, the school’s director of advancement.

Breaking it down further, that’s about eight books for all 92 students K-5 students, and just over 1,800 pages for the 6-8 students.

“I know that makes your parents happy, teachers happy, and ultimately it’s going to make you a stronger person and a better person when you grow up,” said Mayor Robert Mezzo who administered the certificates at the ceremony along with Deputy Mayor Tamath Rossi.

The following students read the most books in their classes: