North Royalton Middle School celebrated Right to Read Week during the week of March 2 with a theme that invited every Bear to discover the wonder found between the pages of a good book: Unlocking Stories.
Inspired by National Read Across America Day on March 4, the program encouraged students to explore the mystery and magic hidden inside every book. Through exciting stories and read-aloud adventures, each page offered the chance to unlock something new, from silly characters and faraway lands to mysteries waiting to be solved.
Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of engaging literacy activities designed to celebrate reading and build community. Activities included:
Peek a Boo! guessing the book title from snippets of a book cover
Battle Practice: Children’s Books, where students guessed the book from clues
Guessing a North Royalton Middle School staff member from their middle school picture
Guessing a North Royalton Middle School staff member from their reading voice, with special thanks to teacher Don Filips for creating the game
Guessing the book title using emojis as clues
Students who participated in activities were entered into prize drawings. Bookmarks and stickers were distributed in English language arts classes while supplies lasted.
A highlight of the week took place on March 4, when the entire school community paused for sustained silent reading from 2:20 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Students brought a book from home or selected one from the library to enjoy during the dedicated time. Classrooms across the building came together in a shared celebration of reading, reinforcing the importance of literacy at every grade level.
To add to the fun, students were encouraged to wear black-out or “Guess Who?” themed attire on Wednesday, dressing as literary-inspired mystery figures such as Sherlock Holmes, Carmen Sandiego, or Where’s Waldo.
Right to Read Week at North Royalton Middle School served as more than a celebration. It was a reminder that reading opens doors to imagination, knowledge, and lifelong learning. By unlocking stories, North Royalton’s Bears continued building a strong community of readers, one page at a time.