It's time for the Closter PTO Read-a-thon!
Monday March 2nd - March 13th, 2026 - Pre-K - 4th Grades
We're excited to announce that Read-A-Thon is back at Hillside!
Read-A-Thon is a fun program that brings students together with friends and family to encourage reading and building literacy skills, while raising money for our school!
Get Read-A-Thon ready in 3 simple steps:
- Set up your child's account: https://www.read-a-
thon.com/readers/r/ Make sure to use your student's FULL NAME and parent's email. (if you have more than one child in Hillside you must create an account for each child).313232323035/1?utm=email
- Use the easy online tools to tell friends and family about Read-a-thon so they can support your child's reading. Track and log at-home reading sessions (your in-school reading sessions will be logged by Read-A-Thon chairs).
- Earn Fabulous prizes! 75% of money raised goes directly to the Closter PTO. 15% of the money raised goes back to your child to be used in the prize store.
Remember, all reading counts! Reading books, magazines, comic books, recipes, as well as listening to audiobooks or being read to by a parent or sibling is all great! Everyone can participate regardless of reading level of skill!
Read-A-thon prizes:
Each of the top 3 winners in each grade (most minutes read) will receive gift cards to:
Pre-K
Lily and Liam + Tiger Kim's Tae Kwon Do + Goldfish swim + Uncle Louie G's ices + Paragon Gymnastics or The Buzz playspace
Kindergarten
Lily and Liam + Goldfish swim + NVSA + Northvale Dairy Queen + Paragon Gymnastics or The Buzz playspace
1st Grade
Grit Ninja + Bareburger + NVSA + Bricks 4 Kidz + Paragon Gymnastics or The Buzz playspace
2nd Grade
Grit Ninja + Mindy's Munchies + Closter Landmark Movie Theater + Bricks 4 Kidz + Paragon Gymnastics or The Buzz playspace
3rd Grade
Humdingers + Sticker Beans gift bag + Northvale Dairy Queen + Closter Landmark Movie Theater + Paragon Gymnastics or The Buzz playspace
4th Grade
Humdingers + Sticker Beans gift bag + Bareburger + Muse ArtHouse + Paragon Gymnastics or The Buzz playspace, and a Hillside hat
TOP FUNDRAISER:
Lunch with our fabulous principal, Ms. Smith, 1 gift card to Denny's x Lesters, and 1 Liberty Science Center Pass
TOP CLASSES:
Class with the most kids participating - Pizza Pie lunch from Carmine & Ray's
Class with the most minutes read - No HW Day pass
Everyone: Students registered will be eligible for the 3 surprise raffles that will be announced live on HNN so stay tuned! Plus 15% of money raised can be used to "purchase" items in the online Read-A-Thon store. For example, if your child raises $100, he/she will have $15 to spend in the rewards store.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
FAQ's
-What kinds of reading count? ANYTHING your kids read outside of school! In-school minutes are already entered, but kids can read...comic books, classics, recipes, the news... they can listen to audio books, they can be read to, they can read to you or to a sibling, or to a relative over the phone... all reading is great!
-Should my child sign up if we don't want to keep track of reading times at home? SURE! They will still be reading at school, and those minutes are entered in for them. Every kid who signs up is also eligible for the prize raffle!
- Should my child sign up if we don't want to ask anyone for donations? SURE! There is no minimum donation required at all. Read-A-Thon is about encouraging kids to make reading a daily habit, and about making reading enjoyable. It's timed with Read Across America which hopes that all kids will be lifelong readers!
- Who will win prizes this year? Stay Tuned to find out! This year there are class prizes for the most minutes read and the most participants. Each grade will have prizes for the students who read the most minutes. There are also raffle prizes, and EVERY kid who signs up is in the raffle!
