The ITJ Palomar students emerged as champions in an International Reading Tournament, also winning first place in the category for the group with the most accumulated minutes! Collectively, ITJ students logged 149,903 minutes of reading immersion, devouring the pages of 5,790 books in both English and Spanish. Among them, the 3C group stands out, led by Professor Miguel Casillas, whose dedication and passion for books encouraged his students to accumulate 17,409 minutes of reading.
But what is behind this great achievement? For ITJ Palomar, the value of reading is reflected in academic success, since it improves vocabulary, feeds curiosity, strengthens analytical thinking, improves memory and attention span. Strong reading skills lay the foundation for success in almost all academic areas; but what really makes ITJ proud is that: “Reading not only makes you smarter; It makes you a better person!”
There is a poignant quote by George RR Martin about reading: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. “The man who never reads only lives once.” Social Scientists, Psychologists, Educators, Authors, years of clinical research and formalized testing, say that it is through reading these “lives” the reader gains experiences, gaining insight and empathy, which in turn can translate into people who have a better level of understanding and are kind to their environment.
“(…) when I get to the end of a book and look up, only four days have passed. But in that time, I have lived through three generations… Ahab, Queenqueg, Ofelia and other characters die on the page so that we can live better lives.”- The Water Pact
ITJ Palomar proudly celebrates the shared triumph in the exciting world of reading, an achievement that reflects the commitment and dedication of its students and community, who embody the pillars of Respect, Self-Esteem and Excellence, recognizing how being a reader aligns with the ethos of being a Laboratory for Life. “May reading guide you through your individual journeys of self-development, helping you evolve into better versions of yourself.”
