03-03-2025
Students in Altadena celebrate Read Across America Day with president of California Teachers Association
Kindergarteners from Altadena Arts Magnet School had a special time reading in class Monday morning celebrating Read Across America Day.
The students are temporarily attending class at Allendale Elementary after the Eaton Fire caused smoke damage to their campus.
The students had a special guest read with them, David Goldberg, the president of the California Teachers Association. His union represents teachers from across the state.
Goldberg isn't a stranger to Southern California. He's a former elementary school teacher from Boyle Heights.
Goldberg was in Pasadena as part of Read Across America, which is usually celebrated on March 2 each year to mark Dr. Seuss's birthday. Read Across America is also a national year-long celebration of reading sponsored by the National Education Association and the CTA.
Every year educators pick books as part of the program. Goldberg chose to read a book called, "It's Okay to Be Different."
While the students loved the bright colors and cute stories, there was a special moment that stopped the entire class. One of the pages said, "It's okay to say no to bad things."
One of the students mentioned the recent wildfires and nearly every one of the 17 children in the class brought up either losing their own home, a grandparent, or a friend's home due to the fires. Some of the students even talked about being evacuated.
A poignant moment for these young students who are dealing with displacement every day caused by the fire.
Even though their school campus did not burn in the fire, the district said it was damaged by smoke. The hope is to clean the campus and finish repairs in time for the students to return next school year.
