George Fischer Middle School Students Join 'Million Page Challenge'

CARMEL, N.Y. -- Fifth and six-grade students at George Fischer Middle School have an audacious goal this winter: to read a collective one million pages per grade.

Students at George Fischer Middle School count how far along they are in the Million Page Challenge, which is a reading drive meant to help local organizations.
Photo Credit: *Carmel Central School District*

Tom Auchterlonie

02/14/2017 6:50 p.m.

The students are participating in what is called the Million Page Challenge, according to the Carmel Central School District.

The challenge serves as a fundraising opportunity for each class to help two organizations located in Patterson, according to the district. Fifth graders are seeking to help Happy Life Animal Rescue and sixth graders want to help Animal Ark Wildlife Rescue.

As of Jan. 31, according to the district, the fifth graders have collectively read 655,084 pages, while the figure for sixth graders is 430,076.

The district also notes that if either grade hits its one-million mark, the school librarian will get a hair-color change, with "brilliant blue" and 'neon green" two floated possibilities. Last year, the librarian's hair was dyed pink, the district said.

Students get certain prizes for individual milestones, too.

"In addition to the donation, when an individual student reaches 1,000 pages, he or she receives a “paw” token," the district said in its statement. "When a student completes 5,000 pages he or she receives a sun token indicating this achievement. The class who reads the most on the grade level receives a pizza lunch."

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