Reading Hour, sponsored by English teacher Rachel Gross, takes place every two weeks before school in room 2040 where students listen to a teacher or staff member read–and this year have a chance to get free Chipotle.

The next Reading Hour is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 a.m. when English Teacher Sharon Swanson will read an excerpt from Clarence Darrow’s autobiography, which talks about his involvement in the Leopold-Loeb trial. Bagels and orange juice are available beginning at 7:15 a.m.

Upon going to Reading Hour, students receive a punch card and receive a hole punch every time they attend. Once they get seven hole punches, a $5-10 dollar gift card is theirs!  On Sept. 30, Gross, filling in for the ill Jessica Ogulnik, director of student activities, read two short stories from the collection Just So, “The Elephant’s Child” and “How the Rhinoceros got his Skin.”

“I really liked the reading, and I thought that [Ms. Gross] was very energetic when she read,” said first-time attendee sophomore Sarah Nguyen.

Gross said many more people are attending this year.  Last year, about five people attended the first Reading Hour of the year, as opposed to the 37 who appeared for the first Reading Hour of this year.

Sophmore Maricar Tamayo said she was happy she went to Reading Hour.

“I liked the way [Ms. Gross] got into character while reading,” she said.

Sophmore Sally Kim also said she enjoyed the reading, but for different reasons.

“The stories she read were interesting and she reads aloud well,” said Kim, who attended both Reading Hours this year in addition to one last year.

Gross, who started Reading Hour four years ago, said she looks forward to this year’s readers.

“There is something appealing to hearing someone else read, I think that is something the kids would like to do,” she said.

To see the complete Reading Hour schedule for the 2010-2011 school year, check out the website.

Want to receive an extra punch on your Chipotle Reading Hour punch card?

To receive an extra “punch,” simply leave a SCHOOL APPROPRIATE comment:

• What teacher or staff member would you like to hear read at Reading Hour?

• What work would you like to listen to at Reading Hour?

Then come to the English Office, room 1170, and see Ms. Lauer.

Contest ends Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 AM.

Jeremiah Stymacks contributed to this article.