Students in pre-k through fifth grade enjoyed a lively assembly on their last day of school before spring break on Friday, March 10, complete with big reveals, a giant check, and confetti cannons! Lower School science teacher Becca Stolzenbach, who led the read-a-thon, thanked the boys for participating and the teachers for their help in encouraging the students and counting all the hours they read. She also acknowledged Director of Service Learning Donell Thompson, Head of Lower School Linda Fussell, and Assistant Head of Lower School Katie Thomas for their support.

After anticipation was built and the auditorium was filled with little-lap drum rolls, the boys learned that they read a collective total of 3,231 hours during the monthlong event! Even more exciting, they got to see Damion Cooper of Project Pneuma, a Baltimore organization serving boys in fourth through eighth grades in Baltimore City, receive a check for $18,288.95 — the amount of money they raised through the read-a-thon. The nonprofit strives to teach the young men it serves the art of forgiveness, self-control, and discipline while giving them exposure to a new world of endless possibilities. Cooper, who founded Project Pneuma in 2014, said he couldn’t wait to show the check to the boys in the program.

Finally, there was just one reveal left. Which house read the most? Was it red? Orange? Yellow? Green? Purple? When Stolzenbach and second grade teacher LJ Shapiro launched the confetti cannons, and gold-colored confetti dispersed all over the stage, the boys had their answer! Congratulations to the yellow (Virtus) house!