Winners of the Central High School 2025 DEAR Day Reading Competition
The Cheyenne Central High School library is a bustling place during most school days with students reading, studying, finding materials for schoolwork, and visiting with classmates, but it was particularly busy on April 11. Central High students were invited to participate in a competition in honor of Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day, which is normally celebrated annually on April 12, but took place at the school a day early due to the weekend.
“We had teams compete to see who can fill their reading chair for the most minutes in day,” explained Melissa Sipe, Central High School’s Library Media Specialist.
Additionally, Central High School’s library was mentioned in a recent news article regarding a former student who has had a book checked out since 1994. Josiah Harlow borrowed The Silver Horn of Robin Hood by Donald Ewin Cooke, which was published in 1956, forgot to return it to the library before his graduation later that year, and now regards it as a prized volume in his extensive personal library. Although Josiah has offered to pay his overdue fines for the book, it seems restitution won’t be necessary.
“As far as the book is concerned, the former librarian, Mrs. Farris’ $5.00 maximum fine policy still exists here at Central, but at this point, I’m sure we would both forgive it,” said Melissa Sipe. “I’m happy he found a book he loves so much!”
Central High School is one of four high schools in Cheyenne, Wyoming, all of which benefit from a building library and staff to help students access books and other media to support their learning and literacy.