Hilton students participate in Guinness record attempt

Sophia Camillaci (Patricia Dailey's class).

Stephanie Shtoyko (Sara Muscarella's class).

Coordinator Lori Burch, an instructional technology specialist at Monroe 2 BOCES and Hilton Central Schools, informed the attendees about the old record, 155,528 participants, and information, valid as of the previous night, on the attempt at a new record: 521,754 participants in 2,261 locations, including all 50 states, and a total of 27 countries. Photographs by Walter Horylev.

Hilton students participate in Guinness record attempt

It was 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 13 and there was a little tension and a lot of excitement in the air in Patricia Dailey's second grade classroom in Hilton's Northwood Elementary School. Around 22 students were sitting on the floor and waiting for the "action" to begin. They were part of a group of 75 second grade students involved in a worldwide attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the simultaneous reading of a passage from Charlotte's Web from multiple locations. The previous records was 155,528 participants. The plan was being coordinated through an online connection, complete with a conference call setup. Soon after, the remainder of the students, from Sheri Carter's and Sara Muscarella's class, came in and sat on the floor. The vocal energy, if bottled up, could well have substituted for the rockets for the Discovery's lift off. Lori Burch, an instructional technology specialist at Monroe 2 BOCES and Hilton Central Schools, gave a brief overview about what was going to happen.

A few minutes later everyone quieted down as a woman's voice originating from California came over the loudspeaker giving the final instructions and a countdown from 15.

At precisely 12 noon, with all the participants in the room joining in, the countdown had gone to zero and the students began to read out loud, in unison "Salutations" said the voice. Wilbur jumped to his feet. "Salu-what?" he cried. And on it went for a couple of minutes with Chapter Five, to the end, where it concluded: " 'I think you're beautiful,' said Wilbur."

With that a cheer went up.

It wasn't long before Lori Burch went to an easel and put the numbers up for all to see. The previous record was 155,528 readers. The result, as of the previous evening, 521,754 readers in 2,261 locations, in all 50 states, and a total of 27 countries. Another cheer went up. Burch described the experience: "I think it's one of the most exciting things I've done in a long time." The new record remains on hold until it is verified; I, as one of the witnesses, had to send a letter to Lori indicating that I had abided by the guidelines and was "on duty" at the school at 12 noon EST on 12/13/06, along with some personal information. These letters will be forwarded to the Guinness organization in support of the claim. All the paperwork has to be submitted by January 3, 2007; the outcome should be available within six to eight weeks thereafter.