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Rensselaer Park Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) Program: Feb. 27–Apr. 2

The Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program returns to Rensselaer Park Elementary from February 27–April 2, 2026! This is an annual PTA-sponsored program inspiring RPES students and families/friends to read together.

Logo for Rensselaer Park Elementary's 2026 Pick a Reading Partner Program

2026 PARP Theme

The 2026 PARP theme is "A Marathon of Reading," and it will take students on a reading tour of the World Marathon Majors cities (New York, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin and London), with different Rensselaer Park hallways representing different cities. Each classroom has a running bib that they decorated to represent their class, and the bib will move throughout the different World Marathon Majors cities in the school. 

The more minutes a class reads, the faster that class will 'run' through the different cities/marathons. The class in each grade level that reads the most minutes will earn the Golden Shoe Award.

2026 PARP Events

  • Wednesday, March 4: Marathoners in the Park Reading "Knight"
    • An evening of group reading with friends and family at Rensselaer Park
  • Thursday, March 26: A Knight on the Run: The Reading Marathon Expo
    • Rensselaer Park's annual literacy night event with literacy-themed activities for school families

How to Participate in PARP

Follow the simple steps below and check out the Rensselaer Park PARP website here, where you will find everything you need to participate.

1. Pick a Reading Partner

Students pick a reading partner (a parent, grandparent, older sibling, friend, etc.) who will read together with them throughout PARP.

2. Fill Out the Participant Application

Once students have chosen a reading partner, fill out the 2026 Participant Application Google Form here.

3. Track Minutes Spent Reading

Students should try to read a bit each day with their reading partner during PARP. Each grade level has online reading logs where individual students can submit their daily minutes read. Reading logs are available on the 2026 PARP website.

Questions? 

If you have any questions about the 2026 Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) Program, email Rensselaer Park Reading Teacher Kelly Juliano (kjuliano@lansingburgh.org).