Rockingham County Public Schools

Move over Elvis, Crocodile Hunter, and Elky the Elk. The new guy on the block at Elkton Elementary is Captain Book. EES Principal Ed Powell, famous among the students for his impressions during morning announcements, made a deal with his student body — read 3,000 books in two short weeks and he would transform himself into a pirate. The students not only met that goal, they more than DOUBLED it, reading an extraordinary 6,688 books in the two week period.

Mr. Powell was true to his word. Enlisting the aid of his assistant principal, Bill Rauss, together the good-sport administrators donned costumes and embraced their roles as Captain Book (Powell) and Polly the Parrot (Rauss) and provided the students an amusing pirate-themed celebration to cap off their reading initiative themed "Find the Treasure in a Good Book. Be a Bookaneer." In an assembly, top readers in each classroom were recognized and awarded prizes (books, of course) and every student in the school was given free ice cream. Then, in true pirate form, Mr. Powell walked the plank, taking a step toward the water with each pirate-related riddle he could not answer correctly. As he stepped off and took the plunge into the water, students were surprised with an actual splash — on them!

Praised Mr. Powell, "We are always amazed at how dedicated and hard working our students are. The goal for reading month was 3000 books. Our students read nearly 6,700 books. That was incredible! We are proud of all the students and staff who made Reading Month a swashbuckling success!"

Captain Book edged his way toward the end of the plank ...

3rd Grade teachers wore specially created t-shirts (design by Rachel Brunk) to celebrate success!