by Andrew Rothfusz

Students at Atlantic High School will attempt to read 500,000 pages during a 5-month stretch as part of a program organized by librarian Ginger Bechtold. Between Jan. 5 and May 5, AHS students and faculty will do their best to read half a million pages (or minutes) as part of a competition-style program called “Challenge Accepted.” The idea was discovered and implemented by Bechtold, with assistance from principal Heather McKay.

As an incentive for students to compete in the program, the seminar class who has read the most pages/minutes will get a reward, such as an opportunity to go bowling. There will also be a drawing among the top readers, the winner receiving a Kindle Fire.

According to McKay, the pages that you read as part of the contest don’t have to be from books. “Materials can be a textbook, a blog, AHS Needle, magazines, electronic novels, any type of reading that helps expand (a student’s) view of the world or gives them some type of enjoyment.”

In the program, the pages and minutes are recorded online, where Bechtold will keep track of the numbers.  She will also post the results of the contest in the commons. CLICK HERE to record your books!