Sorted Out Lausd Gets Ready for Day With Rowling, Harry Potter
By ANGIE VALENCIA-MARTINEZ
NORTHRIDGE — Nobel Middle School got a little break from reading, writing and arithmetic Monday as talk turned to wizards, witches and magic.
Harry Potter giddiness spread among students and teachers after the school was named one of 40 in L.A. Unified territory to participate in the J.K. Rowling Open Book Tour on Oct. 15.
“Harry Potter books have inspired a generation of readers,” said Ronni Ephraim, chief instructional officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District, on Monday.
“Many of our high school students began reading the series in elementary.”
Forty students from each selected school will join the internationally acclaimed British author at the Kodak Theatre for a reading of the final novel in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” There will also be a question-answer period and a book signing.
A total of 1,600 LAUSD students will be chosen by Sept. 25 from third through 12th grades on the basis of an essay contest.
Students are being asked to write a short essay on one of the following questions: How has reading Harry Potter books changed my thinking about reading? Why do I admire J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter book series? Who is your favorite character in the Harry Potter book series?
Rowling’s tour, including stops in New Orleans and New York, is being sponsored by Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, including the Harry Potter series in the United States.
“The tour is a chance for Ms. Rowling to spend time with some very important people — the kids who love Harry Potter,” said Francie Alexander, chief academic officer for Scholastic. “We hope the kids will get excited about reading, get excited about writing.”
Scholastic also will donate 5,000 copies of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the first book in the series, to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
However, the majority of the kids at Nobel Middle School didn’t need an introduction to the series.
“I like how it’s so thrilling and always keeps you on your feet, and you don’t know what’s going to happen next,” said Shilpa Bhongir, 12, who has read all seven Harry Potter books. “You can’t put your book down. In the end, it all comes together.
“Reading takes you to a different world. When I read a book, I have a movie playing in my head.”
Other San Fernando Valley schools taking part in the tour include Panorama High School, Canoga Park High School, Encino Elementary School, Van Nuys Middle School, Nestle Elementary School and Arleta High School.
“It’s going to be a very motivating thing for the children to read and write,” said Alan O’Hara, principal of Nestle Elementary in Tarzana. “They’re already very excited. They’re showing me their books. They’re very proud. There’s a whole fever and excitement here.”
angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com
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Which schools
San Fernando Valley public schools chosen to participate in the J.K. Rowling Open Book Tour:
Panorama High School
Canoga Park High School
Nobel Middle School
Nestle Elementary School
Encino Elementary School
Lewis Continuation High School
Arleta High School
Maclay Middle School
Van Nuys Middle School
Herrick Elementary School
SOURCE: Los Angeles Unified School District
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