Dr. Kerrie Ammons, speech pathologist at C.C. Pinckney Elementary School, and Alan Danahy show off the prize baskets to be given during the Reading Prize Patrol to students. The contents of the baskets were bought with grant money provided by the Nat...

Jonathan Cain smiles brightly as he holds the huge basket of goodies after being selected as one of the winners of the C.C. Pinckney Elementary School's Prize Patrol Mar. 2. The baskets were created from grant money given by the National Education As...

They have taken the oath and have done the reading. Now all they have to do is wait for the police sirens and the prize patrol to arrive.

Students of C.C. Pinckney Elementary School on post waited with baited breath to see if the school's prize patrol would come to their homes and recognize their reading efforts.

The Pinckney Prize Patrol gave surprised students a basket full of reading tools that included three grade-level specific books, a journal, a Dr. Seuss book, writing instruments and materials, book lights, bookmarks, and games to help their reading skills.

It was "awesome," said Jonathan Cain after being surprised with his basket that will help him keep reading.

Reading is a "passion of his," said his father Randy Cain. "It's a great feeling I couldn't be any prouder of him. He definitely exceeded the standard."

The prize patrol, similar to the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, started in 2014, as a way to increase Family involvement in student learning, said Dr. Kerrie Ammons, C.C. Pinckney's speech pathologist. Prize patrols take place twice a year, once in the fall to celebrate mathematics, and one during Read Across America week in early spring to promote reading.

"Reading is very, very important," said Dr. Tammy Shadd, Pinckney's interim principal, said to the school's students at an assembly Feb. 27. "We have on our silly hats today and are going to have a great time because reading is fun, but it is very serious the oath that you took. Every day you have to commit to reading."

More than 154 students entered into the contest, but the prize patrol only stopped to recognize 17 students.

A recent grant from the National Education Association allowed the school to expand the recipients of the patrol, Ammons added.

Fort Jackson Association of Educators and the Federal Association of Educators, applied for the grant and awarded $3,500 earmarked to support NEA Read Across America events at Pinckney Elementary School. The grant was written to fund not only the 2017 Pinckney Reading Prize Patrol program but also other NEA Read Across America events.

"The grant also allowed for the purchase of NEA Read Across America 'brag tags' for all students, as well as a Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss celebration (cupcakes and ice cream) tomorrow," Ammons added. "We are happy to report that one hundred percent of the grant money was given to Pinckney Elementary School students."

The prize patrol is the penultimate event in the school's Read Across America campaign. The week-long event ended March 3 with a character parade.

"We have to give a 'special thank you' to the NEA, FEA and the FJAE for supporting programs for DoDEA /Pinckney Elementary School students, to promote reading," Ammons said.

The Prize Patrol winners were:

C.J. Rodriguez

Camden Mattson

Johnny Kallon

Veronica Velasquez

Gia Lerner

Robert Wasielewski

Nicholas Chambers

Trinity Haynes

Jonathan Cain

Parker Hodges

Trey Taib

Caiden Ping

Logan Ping

Saralyn Brown

Anthony Gregory

Keara Watlington

Brooke Brandon