Students at James Lintott Elementary and Orin Smith Elementary recently had the chance to connect with the names behind a beloved monthly routine that's helping them discover a love for reading, writing and exploring the world around them.

Last week, Kid Scoop News Founder and Editor Vicki Whiting and Director Chuck Pendell visited our two elementary schools to get a first-hand look at how our classrooms are using their publication to increase reading comprehension. Kid Scoop News is a student-focused monthly newspaper based in Sonoma, California. It was launched by Whiting 25 years ago. A former classroom teacher, Whiting began the publication as a single-page feature in her local newspaper. Today, it reaches 7.5 million students nationwide.

Whiting said she started Kid Scoop News because she wanted something that students not only wanted to read, but could take home and share with their families. Through features such as coloring pages, word puzzles and even recipes, she hopes her publication is something that students read both inside and outside the classroom.

"Our mission is to awaken the love of reading in students," Whiting said.

Every elementary student in the Chehalis School District receives a monthly copy of Kid Scoop News through a generous donation from Jim Lintott, a Chehalis School District graduate and the namesake of James Lintott Elementary. Lintott was also part of the recent visit alongside Chad and Coralee Taylor, owners of The Chronicle, and Chehalis School District administrators.

During the visit, guests observed classrooms engaging with the latest edition of Kid Scoop News and spoke directly with students about their favorite sections, seeing firsthand how the publication enhances classroom curriculum and sparks a love of learning in students.

In the Chehalis School District, our work toward achieving our student achievement goals is a comprehensive, K-12 approach. Our elementary students' access to Kid Scoop News is just one example of how we are supporting our student achievement goals in the classroom. Both Orin Smith Elementary and James Lintott Elementary identified increasing student reading achievement as one of their main goals in their 2025-2026 School Improvement Plans (SIP).