“Reading Across the Street” for Austin Catholic Schools includes both the elementary school and Pacelli High School. This program focuses on building bridges and uniting individuals. Each student and staff member is assigned their reading buddy for the school year to help build that relationship. These meetings take place once a month for twenty minutes. During this time they concentrate on reading, writing, and literacy. This program creates lasting connections and these relationships help make a difference in their lives.

Some activities students and staff participate in include; reader’s theatre, scavenger hunts, making bookmarks, making prayer cards, reading books by favorite authors, studying an author, reading silly poems, writing silly poems, saying the Rosary, reading nursery rhymes, working on phonics skills, doing art projects, sharing favorite books, playing with puppets, reading together, writing short stories and helping get ready for mass.

The following grades read together for the school year: grade 12 reads with grade 6; grade 11 reads with grade 4; grade 10 reads with grade 5; grade 9 reads with grade 3; grade 8 reads with grade 2; and grade 7 reads with grade 1.