Women's Basketball | 2/28/2025 11:00:00 AM
NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 28, 2025 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), in collaboration with the City of Norfolk and Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) have once again joined forces for the “Read with MEac” elementary and middle school reading contest, sponsored by TowneBank and Dominion Energy. The winners were announced today.
Read with MEac, in its 17
th year, was created by the MEAC’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) to promote the love of reading. Students are encouraged to read as much as possible and their progress is monitored through the Renaissance Star Reading program from September through February 7.
“The Read with MEac program is a pivotal conference community initiative,” said MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills. “I’m proud to see it thrive in its 17th year, thanks to the support of the City of Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools, TowneBank, and Dominion Energy. Special thanks to Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong for her dedication to the students at Norfolk Public Schools. Early literacy is the foundation of academic success. By fostering a love of reading, we equip young learners with critical thinking, creativity, and confidence. Together, educators, families, and communities must champion literacy as the key to unlocking brighter futures for our children.”
"Norfolk Public Schools is thrilled to continue fueling our students' passion for reading by participating in this year’s Read with MEac contest,” said Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong. “This long-standing partnership with the MEAC, TowneBank, and the City of Norfolk helps us bring reading to life for our elementary and middle school students. Not only does this program foster a love for reading, but it also encourages critical learning moments that will serve our students for years to come.”
The 2025 winning school, class and top readers will be recognized during a celebration at Academy of International Studies at Rosemont at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11.
The winners are:
First-Place School - Academy of International Studies at Rosemont ($2,000)
Second-Place School - Academy for Discovery at Lakewood ($1,500)
Third-Place School - Larchmont Elementary School ($500)
Winning Class - Teacher Vanessa Dettrie, 3
rd grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood ($1,000)
Top Readers - Name, Grade, School
Dimitri Poletsky, 2nd grade, Camp Allen Elementary School
Miles Davis, 2nd grade, Ghent School
Kingsley Privett, 3rd grade, Bay View Elementary School
Ash Baylor-Morse, 3rd grade, Ghent School
Henry Martins, 4th grade, Ghent School
Annabella Hardner, 4th grade, Norview Elementary School
Penelope Reed, 5th grade, Larchmont Elementary School
James Keefe, 5th grade, Larchmont Elementary School
Johanna Fox, 6th grade, Academy of Intl Studies at Rosemont
Juliet Anderson, 6th grade, Academy of Intl Studies at Rosemont
Sylvia Bowers, 7th grade, Academy of Intl Studies at Rosemont
Jamahd Mitchell *, 7th grade, Lake Taylor School
Bryson Kelly *, 7th grade, Blair Middle School
Kamiryn Ricks, 8th grade, Blair Middle School
Eleanor Wernly, 8th grade, Academy of Intl Studies at Rosemont
Most Improved
Salem Richards, 2nd grade, Sewells Point Elementary School
Noah Plauga, 2nd grade, Granby Elementary School
Naomi Rose, 3rd grade, Camp Allen Elementary School
Kasim Littlejohn, 3rd grade, Norview Elementary School
Brayden Bartolome, 4th grade, Sewells Point Elementary School
Mario Mccoy, 4th grade, Chesterfield Academy
Ayden Odums, 5th grade, Southside STEM Academy at Campostella
Anthony Barrett, 5th grade, Little Creek Elementary School
Jonathan Vegarosas, 6th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle School
Jaedyn Jackson, 6th grade, Blair Middle School
Mariah Jackson, 7th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle School
Samari Jackson Stevens , 7th grade, Lake Taylor School
Oliver Fuentesluna , 8th grade, Norview Middle School
Terrance Graham *, 8th grade, Norview Middle School
Journye Harris *, 8th grade, Northside Middle School
*denotes tie