

99th Street School hears from EPIC crew.
Children love Seuss. That much you knew.
A poem inspired by an EPIC achievement:
They came together. They came with looks.
The biggest ones, they came with books.
In ones and twos, they came in the door.
Then, in three seconds, they were on the floor.
Some came to read, and they wore a hat.
They came to read. Right where they sat.
Of ways to read Seuss, they presented four.
The Cat in the Hat? He knew four more.
On Wednesday, March 24, 13 students and staff from Cal State L.A.Âs EPIC (Educational Participation In Communities) program visited 99th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles.
As part of a community-service project called America Reads/America Counts, the EPIC crew brought books, costumes and activities for more than 70 first-grade students. On the floor of a multi-purpose room, they huddled in small groups, each with an EPIC reader, to celebrate the joy of reading inspired by Dr. Seuss.
Later the children engaged in larger-group activities that included the following:
- ÂI Can Read With ?  an activity that showed the children different ways that people can read, including using a Dr. Seuss Braille book created by a staff member from the Cal State L.A.Âs Office of Students with Disabilities;
- ÂHop on Pop  a perfect-for-families word game in which bubbles pop at the end of the game;
- ÂHorton Hears a Who?  a listening activity to promote effective communication skills; and
- A RIF  Reading Is Fundamental  book distribution in which children each selected a book to keep as a final gift to extend the celebration of reading.
99th Street School educators deeply appreciated the visit by the CSULA student-volunteers, especially as it occurred smack-dab in the middle of Cal State L.A.Âs spring break.
In May, 99th Street School students will visit Cal State L.A. for a day-long event called ÂCal State L.A., Here We Come! They will be among hundreds of students from other elementary schools that participated this year in the EPIC America Reads/Counts program.
According to EPIC Director Jorge Uranga, ÂThis annual event (ÂHere We ComeÂ) recognizes the work of CSULA students who tutor children who are below grade-level in reading and math. Perhaps more importantly, it also celebrates the academic achievements of the children. It resends, reinforces and solidifies the message that the children have been given throughout their tutoring sessions: ÂYou are intelligent, and you can go to college.ÂÂ
ThatÂs important to know even when  or especially when  youÂre in the first grade.
Theodore Geisel (the real name of the legendary author) once delivered his poem ÂMy Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers for a college commencement address.
GeiselÂs last Dr. Seuss book, published in 1990, serves as an timeless charge to graduates, whether they are from 99th Street School, Cal State L.A., or a college in Whoville. The book is often given as a dose of encouragement to graduates as they face the guaranteed uncertainty of the future.
WouldnÂt you know? ItÂs called, ÂOh, The Places YouÂll Go!Â
Here are links for your reference:
- 99th Street School, Los Angeles:
http://notebook.lausd.net/portal/page?_pageid=33,54194&_dad=ptl&_schema=PTL_EP&school_code=5534 - Location of 99th Street School:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=9900+S+WADSWORTH+AVE&city=LOS+ANGELES&state=CA&zipcode=90002&country=US - EPICÂs annual Holiday Toy and Food Drive:
/univ/ppa/spotlight/archive/2009/epic.php - America Reads and Counts at Cal State L.A.:
/univ/ppa/newsrel/ameread2010.htm - The story of Dr. Seuss delivering addressing a college graduation  with the poem ÂMy Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers (see poem at bottom of article):
http://www.lakeforest.edu/alumni/spectrum/spring04/seuss.asp - ÂOh, The Places YouÂll Go!Â:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780679805274