Preschool director joins in Raiders Read Together

HUNTLEY – Well-known Huntley Park District Preschool Director Connie Lombard was the guest reader for Huntley School District 158’s Raiders Read Together program June 12.

Raiders Read Together participants are reading “Wonder!” by R.J. Palacio, a No. 1-New York Times best seller. The book follows the journey of main character Auggie Pullman.

Lombard, mother of D158 Interim Superintendent for 2023-24 Jessica Lombard, has been teaching preschoolers for almost 40 years.

“This was my 39th graduating class this year,” said Connie Lombard, known as “Miss Connie” to her classes.

“Books were always a part of our house growing up and my mother would read to us often,” Jessica Lombard said. “She was able to make stories come to life through her reading and I can only imagine all the children she has worked with over the years would agree she makes reading fun. I always remember my mom coming home with picture books. She would always say, ‘you can never have enough books!’”

Future community leaders reading aloud at the public library at 6 p.m. are Huntley Police Department June 19 and Huntley Area Fire Protection District June 26. Readers Read Together continues through July 31.

“Throughout the summer, participants will also have the opportunity to participate in literacy activities,find ways to be kind and explore our community all along our reading journey,” according to a D158 flier. Families are encouraged to visit the Raiders Read Together web site at huntley158.org/raiders-read-together to learn more about kindness activities you can engage in all summer long with the slogan #D158isKind.

Also, D158 is providing resources for parents,  via videos,  to practice positive reading habits and literacy skills to use with their students over the summer months.