• Each student receives a book gifted to them through the program
First Grade students throughout Lincoln County School District No. 2 celebrated Wyoming Reads Day in the final weeks of May. Through the generosity of the Sue Jorgensen Literary Foundation, each first grade student receives a hard-cover book to take home and keep, as they work to improve their reading skills and foster their love of reading and books.
LCSD No. 2 District Librarian Shelley Hunsaker explained the history and purpose of Wyoming Reads Day. “The Sue Jorgensen Literary Foundation was established by the Jorgensen family after their wife and mother, Sue, tragically passed away in an automobile accident. Sue was an educator and champion of literacy for Wyoming children. With a goal of promoting literacy in Sue Jorgensen’s honor, the SJLF began with a generous donation to the library at the Jorgensen children’s school. It soon grew into a citywide literacy event in Casper, Wyoming, beginning in 1999, through which each first-grader received a new, hardcover book of their very own to take home, read and enjoy with their families. By 2006, Wyoming Reads became a statewide celebration for all Wyoming first-graders. Since the program’s inception, hundreds of thousands of Wyoming first-graders have chosen and received their Wyoming Reads books during the May events.”
In the 2024 Spring session of the Wyoming Legislature, Governor Mark Gordon signed Wyoming Reads Day into law. The SJL Foundation’s work to inspire literacy in every child is now supported by governmental agencies and public schools throughout the state. Hunsaker expressed her gratitude for the legislature’s support in fostering literacy among young readers. “We are so grateful to have a day dedicated for our state’s first graders to focus on the importance of literacy and to help our students experience fun, entertaining activities to celebrate reading these wonderful books. This celebration is just one of the many indicators that represents the importance Wyoming residents place on early literacy. We are appreciative of the Sue Jorgensen Literary Foundation and Sue’s reading legacy that continues to enrich the lives of our young Wyoming Readers.”
According to Afton Elementary First Grade Teacher, Kellie Harris, AES celebrated Wyoming Reads Day “carnival style. For each of the 10 book titles given by the foundation, there was a carnival station for students to participate at. Some of these stations included Raingutter Regatta for the book, ‘Viking Strong’, a slice of Domino’s Pizza for the ‘Pizza: A Slice of History’ book. They even had the opportunity to pet a couple of the goats in the goat petting station for the Mac Barnett book, ‘The Three BIlly Goats Gruff’. Students enjoyed painting rocks at the ‘Rick the Rock of Room 214’ book station among many other activities.”
Thayne Elementary first graders also celebrated the day with various activities designed to represent the theme of each of the 10 books gifted to students through the Foundation. Cokeville Elementary first graders celebrated in conjunction with the Cokeville Library that is part of the Lincoln County Library System. They spent the afternoon reading and exploring the books gifted by the SJL Foundation, and participated in various activities designed around the themes of those books.
“We are so fortunate to have such an incredible team of first grade teachers in our school district,” said Hunsaker. “They are on the front line of early literacy for our students, and they work with enthusiasm and commitment in fostering a love of reading in our young students at LCSD No. 2. Each year, the first grade teachers plan and implement educationally sound and delightful activities to celebrate Wyoming Reads Day.”
