Cat-hatted readers from Kaiser Permanente thrill school children

For Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County physician Dr. Violetta Barroso, it was a perfect day to read “The Cat in the Hat” to Radcliffe Elementary school students in Watsonville.

“It was raining outside, and we were all inside on a rain-day schedule,” remarked Dr. Barroso. “It was a perfect setting for the class to enjoy a story of children who also can’t go outside to play.”

Dr. Barroso and Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County Administrator Hollie Parker-Winzenread both wore their Cat in the Hat hats and red bowties to read to four classrooms at Radcliffe Elementary School students. It was Friday, March 2nd, Read Across America Day, a day to encourage children to read and also to honor the birthday of Ted Geisel, who wrote as Dr. Seuss.

“The children were super excited that I was reading The Cat in the Hat to them in Spanish,” said

Dr. Barroso. “The classroom was full of bilingual children and some English learners.”

She said it was clear to her the Radcliffe Students are doing a lot of reading. One little boy, after Dr. Barroso was finished reading, went to his cubby in the classroom and pulled out a copy of “The Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle to share with Dr. Barroso.

“He was so proud of having that book; I was very happy he was able to share his joy of reading with me today”, says Dr. Barroso.

Also reading to the children in English was Hollie Parker Winzenread, who got a compliment from one little girl.

“She said, ‘oh you’re so tall, you’re just like the Cat in the Hat’” smiled Parker-Winzenread, who is a tall woman. “The kids got a kick out of my reading because I do different voices for each of the characters, even the fish.”

In one of the classrooms where she read, Parker-Winzenread said the teacher had a video fireplace going, and all the kids sat on the floor with their stuffed animals.

“It was just so much fun for me and the children, too,” said Parker-Winzenread.

After the reading, Kaiser Permanente set up some games in the cafeteria for the students and donated several large bags of new books to Radcliffe Elementary.

Principal Ulli Kummerow said the Kaiser Permanente readers brought a special meaning to her students.

“It’s wonderful for our students to know that reading isn’t something that just happens for us here in school,” said Principal Kummerow. “It’s a big event when people from the community come in and show reading is for life.”

“Reading is part of growing and we’re happy that Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County can be part of that for the children,” said Parker-Winzenread.