Last fall, Clark Kostohris, a third-grade teacher at Shadow Lake Elementary School, promised that he and several other teachers would kiss a pig if the school’s students met goals for reading.
The students did. And the teachers paid up last Wednesday by puckering up with a live piglet.
The young porker was brought to the school for an assembly, where students celebrated their accomplishments while witnessing the smooching.
The idea stemmed from the book, “Charlotte’s Web,” which has a pig named Wilbur among the characters.
The program ran from October through May at the Tahoma School District school. The kids had to read 20 minutes a day for 20 days each month for at least six months. All reading had to take place outside of the school day. Each month, the students who completed their reading mission received a medallion with an engraved paw print to add to a key chain given out at the beginning of the year. In addition, the students’ names were displayed in hallways.
Those who eventually had a key chain full of metal medallions by completing the reading goals were honored at last week’s assembly and received gifts from PTA, among other recognition.
The top readers included:
• In preschool, Miles Balmores, Hannah Donahue, Rachel Munsinger, Kylie Kortenkamp and Max Kostohris.
• In kindergarten, Ava Boorn, Matthew Judd, Vanessa Burdge, Alicia Kiyonaga, Wendy Burlison, Austin Prince, Ann Collins, Crina Snyder, Delia Greenwood, Matthew Steinke, Luke Michel, Kyle Trautman, Alan Munson, Chioke Farrell, Cynthia Olvera, Helen Ramey, Jarred Simons, Matthew Tabbert and Willow Hughes.
• In first grade, Jillian Berkenkotter, Rylan Ellis, Javon Brown, Chloe Koepping, Rylee Geddes, Kylee Murbach, Ty Tweeten, Eugine Rhee, Amy Velasco, Kaitlyn Robinson, Joshua Yenser and Jacob Seppi; Paige Anthony, Loranne Lecato, Ethan Bailey, Anna Lewis, Brent Barber, Joshua Pedersen, Estheanna Mafi, Trevor Pringle Oaks, Kassidy Tourangeau, Zackary Schorn and Kaden Stansbury.
• In second grade, Kaitlyn Behrendt, Brooke Asbury, Collin Gage, William Benson, Ryan Hansen, Daria Cawthorn, Kristoffer Johnsen, Gage Fratello, Parker Kneadler, Colt Sherrell, Lindsay Sogge;
Blake Finkle, Reed Donohue, Marijane Ikeomu, Michael Hogg, Joshua Jackson, Jossue IcMex, Andrew Jones, Nathan LaBree, Hailey Lomax, Zerrick Milton, Caitlin Michel, Jacob Morris, Cooper Smith, Kenny Munsinger, Kelsie Sykes, Ashley Sabido, Payton Young, Sala Shong and Gavin Sherman.
• In third grade, Megan Colley, Sydney Brown, Tyler Ghosn, Rachel Coy, Virginia Mehl, Hayden Geddes, Alex Perez, Monica Magana, Tenley Mjelde, Christian Murbach, Colby Pedersen, Justin Velasco, Charlie Wilcox;
Delya Boscancu, Colter Cusimano, Dylan Cummins, Brock Ghosn, Liam Niblock, Shane Smith and Savannah Trautman.
• In fourth grade, Trevor Larsen, Samuel Frodsham, Paige Benson, Brandon Birt, Haily Berkenkotter, Madison Case, Grace Cusimano, Kendall Elliot, Kalisi Mafi, Malin Johnsen, Destiny Sanders, Jacob Robey, Payton Schorn and Madison White.
• In fifth grade, Denise Brandan, Tyler Gage, Sara Colley, Jacob Kutch, Blake Donohue, Jacob Lambro, Brett Hoffbuhr, Jana Macklin, Natalie Holcomb, Mary Munk, Morgan Holko, Rebecca Reynold, Elysia Krupp, Zoe Running, Anamarie McCauley, Alexander Stokes, Alexander Morris, Maria Tizoc, Sarah Neely, Amanda Troxel, Michael Sawin, Olivia Wilcox, Kendra VanDuine;
Nicole Gibson, Lauren Baek, Brenda Jimenez, Owen Boorn, Madison Kneadler, Kendra Clark, Tyler LaBrie, Lily Dunlap, Mackenzie Taylor, Joee Eccles, Guadalupe Lopez, Dakota Giglio, Allison Satko, Vanessa Laramore, Holly Walker, Brianna Little, Sierra Sarino, Selena Smith, Cierra Willaford, Austin Olson.
