Michigan — As the school year began at Battle Creek Academy (BCA), the summer reading program, "Read Through the Summer," ended.

The program, coordinated by Charlene Lavallee, BCA 3rd- and 4th-grade teacher, was open to students in kindergarten through the 8th grade. The goal was for students to read ten out of the twelve weeks of summer. Age-appropriate guidelines describing reading time and frequency requirements were prepared for each grade level.

Participating students charted their progress each day. Thirteen BCA students successfully completed the program. Each received a Certificate of Completion and a new book at an awards ceremony where Kevin Kossick, BCA principal, spoke to the students and their families about endurance and completing the task at hand.

Michelle Cain, Battle Creek Academy public relations correspondent