Over a dozen Hawley Elementary School students recently enjoyed a breakfast with their principal, Christopher Moretti, for completing a summer reading and writing bingo sheet.

On the morning of Thursday, September 18, Moretti and Hawley Language Arts Consultant Patti Vitarelli arranged a special breakfast to treat students for completing Hawley’s Summer Reading and Writing Bingo Challenge.

Designed for all rising kindergartners through fourth grade students, the bingo sheet offered various activities to keep kids engaged in literacy throughout the summer. These reading and writing challenges included reading over the phone to a relative, visiting C.H. Booth Library, coming up with different synonyms and antonyms for select words, and more.

Students got different prizes based on how many rows they filled out. Kids who completed one row got a certificate, those who completed two rows got a certificate and a book for their classroom, and anyone who completed the entire bingo sheet got all the aforementioned rewards and a special breakfast with Moretti.

He and Vitarelli were excited as they prepared a conference room for the 15 students who filled out the entire bingo sheet. They set out two boxes full of artisanal donuts from Grounds Donut House in Danbury.

Each student had a big smile on their face when they came in and saw the boxes of donuts, with flavors ranging from classic glazed and french cruller to frosted strawberry and cookies and cream. There was also a bunch of fruit such as cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, honeydew melon, and more.

Vitarelli helped everyone get one donut and a scoop of fruit, after which they sat down at the table and talked to Moretti. Students could help themselves to fruit juice and bottles of water on the conference table.

As Moretti excitedly talked to students, asking them about their favorite book over the summer, Vitarelli said she was happy to see so many students participate. While 15 students filled out the whole card, a total of 35 students participated in the Summer Reading and Writing Bingo Challenge.

“That’s a little more than ten percent of the [student] population, so that was really nice,” Vitarelli said.

Moretti said this was their largest group in the many years of doing the challenge.

He added, “It’s just nice seeing them get excited about reading.”

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.