Brothers tackle supt.'s summer book challenge

The Gerritsen brothers – Grant, 10, and Riley, 7 – love a good book.

So when Brandon Valley’s school superintendent, Dr. Jarod Larson, issued a summer reading challenge to kids in the district to read at least four books during the break, the youngsters took him up on the challenge. 

And then, they let him know in a letter they each wrote to the district’s top administrator that they’d not only heeded his advice, but exceeded his advice. 

Through his “Supe’s On” columns in June, Larson encouraged kids to read during the summer break in order to avoid the “summer slide.” He said kids that take a break from reading during the summer can lose a quarter, half or even more of what they learned the prior year in school.

“Dear Dr. Larson,” the boys wrote, “We have met your reading challenge goal,” each providing him with a complete list of the summer reads.

They enlightened Larson on how their mom (Andrea) helped them to check out more books at the library, and that goal may could have been set higher. 

They signed off with “P.S. Have a nice summer. We hope you are reading, too.”

The letters, Larson admits, simply made his day.

“There are a lot of long days at the office, and so when this letter showed up, I knew I had to do something,” Larson said.

And that “something” was an in-person visit to the Gerritsen home on a sunny afternoon in early July. And he came armed with gifts in hand – a brand new book and a handwritten note for both.

Grant, who will be a fifth grader at Brandon Valley Intermediate School, says he loves to read, especially the Harry Potter series.

“Our rule is you have to the read the book first, then the movie,” he tells. “And I like learning new stuff.”

So does younger brother, Riley, who’s headed to second grade at Robert Bennis Elementary this fall.

“I like learning history,” he said, hence the book, “The Great Depression,” Larson presented to him.