More than 400 students from Reston-Herndon area elementary schools participated in a Fairfax County Public School summer school program at Oak Hill Elementary School in Herndon.
Pre-school through sixth-grade children came to the school for four weeks, meeting from 9 a.m. to noon, to brush up on their skills for the fast approaching school year.
To keep their interest, students participated in a reading contest dubbed the "Summer Spectacular Reading Bonanza."
Students from Dogwood, Hunters Woods, Fox Mill, McNair, Lees Corner, Floris and Oak Hill Elementary Schools were given a specific number of books they had to read per week. If they met that goal their names were entered into a contest. On the last day of school students' names were drawn, and winners were awarded with several prizes for their hard work. Prizes included a five-foot inflatable monkey, two free passes to Six Flags America donated by the park and stuffed animals, among other things.
Regardless of winning prizes, students will increase their reading skills, learn that reading can be fun and be prepared for the upcoming school year, said Carol Burns, Oak Hill summer school principal.