fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Saugerties elementary principal rides tricycle for reading after students meet her challenge

by Dawn Green
October 16, 2017
in Education
2
Saugerties elementary principal rides tricycle for reading after students meet her challenge

Principal Sue Osterhoudt on a red tricycle.

 

Principal Sue Osterhoudt on a red tricycle.

You might find Sue Osterhoudt, principal of Riccardi Elementary School, in her office meeting with teachers and students, supervising children in the halls or cafeteria, or attending conferences with parents. On October 5, however, Osterhoudt spent most of her day riding through the halls and visiting classrooms astride a small red tricycle. Donning a bandanna and leather jacket, Osterhoudt pedaled the tricycle, fitted with streamers on the handlebars, a tiny bell, and a basket full of Smarties, into the cafeteria during lunch, into classrooms during their reading circles, and around the halls distributing candy and ringing her bell.

Why? Because nearly half the student body had successfully completed her summer reading challenge. The challenge asks students to fulfill at least ten of a number of listed tasks, including reading five fiction books, creating a diorama, reading while away on vacation, and bringing a friend to the library.

Students were introduced to the challenge at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. During an assembly that featured Riccardi faculty and Saugerties Public Library children’s librarian Stephanie McElrath, the students were told that Osterhoudt would go about her day on a tiny tricycle if more of them completed the summer reading challenges than in the previous summer.

The number to beat was 132. This summer, 149 students completed the challenge, just shy of half of the total population of 308. That number is far higher than when Osterhoudt first took the helm at Riccardi in 2012. When she became principal, she says only about a quarter of the students were completing the challenge. She made it her goal to increase that number.

The principal says she was incredibly proud of the students. She called them all up to stage during an assembly in the cafeteria to acknowledge their efforts. If they kept increasing the number of students completing the challenge, she joked, a bigger place to hold the assembly will be needed next year.

Since becoming principal, Osterhoudt has used eccentric challenges to inspire the children to complete the summer reading. She tells the students: “If you’ll read, I will do anything.”

She’s been true to her word. Last year, she spent the day at her desk on the roof of the building. In previous years, she has dressed as a chicken and as Cleopatra. She says the students really appreciate “the opportunity to see the principal be silly.”

The students were delighted by the silliness. Students from all grades ran over to her laughing as she rode between the cafeteria tables during a lunch period.

The behavior is contagious. This year, the teachers ushered in Osterhoudt’s tricycle-riding debut with a performance of “Born to be Wild.” In years past, they performed the chicken dance and dressed as gladiators.

Osterhoudt calls the event “a fun day for everyone, especially for me.” She says she will continue to offer “silly challenges,” aiming for 100 percent completion.
“I haven’t laughed this hard in years,” she confessed as she rode the school hallways.

Thank you for reading Hudson Valley One. We rely on your support to continue providing local, substantive news. Please check out our subscription options to keep local journalism alive in the Hudson Valley.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Painless peeping: View autumn’s glory from the Ashokan Reservoir Trail

Next Post

Kingston Times letters: I-587 Roundabout, Central Hudson gas regulating station

Dawn Green

Related Posts

Saugerties and Ellenville students compose a collaborative poem called Behind the Mask
Community

Saugerties and Ellenville students compose a collaborative poem called Behind the Mask

May 11, 2022
Local school districts respond to possible cuts in state funding
Education

A roundup of local school budget proposals

May 11, 2022
Dr. Darrell Wheeler takes the reins as SUNY New Paltz’s post-pandemic president
Education

Dr. Darrell Wheeler takes the reins as SUNY New Paltz’s post-pandemic president

May 10, 2022
Onteora announces Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Principal’s Award Recipient
Education

Onteora announces Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Principal’s Award Recipient

May 10, 2022
Onteora school board aspirants hand in their test booklets
Education

Onteora school board aspirants hand in their test booklets

May 10, 2022
Seven vie for three seats on Kingston school board
Education

Six vie for three seats on Saugerties School Board

May 9, 2022
Next Post
Kingston Times letters (12/8-14)

Kingston Times letters: I-587 Roundabout, Central Hudson gas regulating station

Please login to join discussion

Trending News

  • Bubbe’s Deli opens in Gardiner’s former Mountain Harbor 1.3k views
  • Woodstock Library bond passes 1k views
  • Saugertes man faces multiple charges after domestic disturbance 888 views
  • Six vie for three seats on Saugerties School Board 643 views
  • The moon is down in Central Hudson 565 views







Latest HV1 Podcast

Weather

Kingston
◉
64°
Mostly Cloudy
5:34am8:10pm EDT
Feels like: 64°F
Wind: 2mph E
Humidity: 98%
Pressure: 29.79"Hg
UV index: 0
MonTueWed
79/52°F
68/46°F
72/48°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Ulster County COVID-19 Active Cases

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Login

© 2022 Ulster Publishing