Hartselle High School students Hannah Berry (left) and Haley Jared reads for a first grade class during Barkley Bridge Elementary School's Committed to Reading Day. | Clif Knight

Barkley Bridge Elementary School students made a commitment to spend part of their summer vacation reading during the second annual observance of “Committed To Reading Day” on Monday.

To underscore their commitment, the school’s 400 students in grades kindergarten to fifth grade repeated an oath administered by Morgan County District Judge Shelly Waters at an assembly in the school gym.

They were also challenged by Superintendent Dr. Mike Reed, Principal Susan Hayes and Reading Coach Cynthia Hagemann.

Afterward, the students listened as some 25 readers read to them from books found in the school library.

The readers consisted of elected officials, school officials, retired educators, school board members, Partners in Education (Sonoco) and college and high school students. They included District 9 State Rep. Ed Henry and Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley.

“Our students have worked hard all year to improve their reading skills and by being consistent in their reading habits this summer, they’ll be able to come back ready to pick up where they left off when this school year ended,” Hagemann said. “”The response we get from community leaders when we invite them to read for our students is wonderful, and we sincerely appreciate their participation.”

Hagemann said “Reading Day” lasted about two hours with classes rotating form one reading station to another every 15 Minutes. Readers were treated to a luncheon in the school library at 11 a.m.