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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 13, 2006 Oak Grove Principal Julie Evans waves to her kindergarten students from her rooftop perch, where she spent several hours as a reward to her pupils for reading thousands of books over the year. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Principal roofs it for rabid readers By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Principal Julie Evans took Oak Grove Elementary School students and herself to new heights Monday when she fulfilled her promise to sit on the school roof all day after students read 20,637 books this year. "They knocked my socks off," said Evans, who had challenged the students to read just 10,000 books. "Is it fun up there?" asked first-grader Vanessa Valdez of Medford. It was fun for Evans until a thunderstorm rolled through the valley in the afternoon, forcing her from her perch. But the principal will more than make up for cutting her rooftop adventure short by kissing a pig on its snout today in front of her students on their last day of school. "It should have big red lip marks when I'm done," said Evans. Why pucker up to a pig? "It's better than eating a worm," she said, referring to what she had to do last year after her students met a similar challenge. Evans agreed to sit on the roof for one hour if students read 10,000 books, plus an extra hour for every 1,000 additional books. Thanks to her voracious readers, who averaged 43 books each, Evans owed a total of 10 hours roof time. Kindergartner Zachary Kirk of Medford took the lead, reading 128 books. His teacher, September Flick, said Zachary is reading at a third-grade level. The 6-year-old said he started reading when he was 4 and estimates he's read "a million, bazillion, gazillion" books. Evans kept herself busy on the roof Monday, erecting a canopy and bringing with her food, water and, of course, a book: "Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment," by James Patterson. She stayed in contact with other school officials by walkie-talkie and was able to get down from the roof easily thanks to a hydraulic lift donated for the day by United Rentals. Students also kept her busy, waving at her and asking questions. Evans, who had a view of the playground below, communicated with her pupils through a loudspeaker. Some of the classes read poetry or sang songs to her, including a rousing rendition of "For she's a jolly good principal." Evans said the idea for pig puckering came from a book called "Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig" by Kalli Dakos and Alicia Desmarteau with illustrations by Carl Di Rocco. Students we re excited and amused at seeing the principal on high. First-grader Skyler Hawley of Medford knew exactly why the principal was sitting on the roof. "Because we read a lot of books," he said. He also knows what he's going to do through the summer. "I'll read more books," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy