BP Fossella to Honor “Readers Are Leaders” Exceptional Readers at Ceremony
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito J. Fossella presented awards to this year’s “Readers Are Leaders” Exceptional Readers on Monday, May 22nd, at 6:00 p.m. at the Bernikow JCC.
“Readers Are Leaders” challenged 4th grade classes in Staten Island’s public, parochial and private schools to read a minimum of five books at grade level or above during the five-week period of February 20th through March 24th. Students then submitted a report or project on their favorite book that they read during the period.
Each school picked on Exceptional Reader, who will receive an award from the Borough President. The program was started by then-Councilman Vito Fossella in 1996 and since its inception, 4th graders have read more than 780,000 books for the annual challenge. That’s over 29 billion words read by Staten Island students!
“Readers Are Leaders” is sponsored by Community Media of Staten Island and the Staten Island FerryHawks.
This event was held at Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Road, 10314
Banner Image: Child reading. Image Credit – Annie Spratt
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.