M.C. Perry Primary hosts Vocabulary Parade for Read Across America Week

Ms. Marie Perez-Lumbreras

Mar 11, 2026

Students in Ms. Henry’s first-grade class display their vocabulary word costumes during the schoolwide Vocabulary Parade at M.C. Perry Primary School in Iwakuni, Japan, March 5, 2026. The Read Across America Week event gave students a creative way to define and represent academic vocabulary. (Rebekah Henry/DOWEA).

IWAKUNI, Japan – The halls of M.C. Perry Primary School came alive with creativity, color, and powerful words as students celebrated the end of Read Across America Week with a schoolwide Vocabulary Parade.

Students transformed academic vocabulary into imaginative, student-designed costumes that showcased both learning and creativity. Each costume represented a vocabulary word students had studied, helping bring language to life in a memorable and engaging way. Some students designed and constructed their costumes independently during class time, while others collaborated with their families at home to prepare their outfits. The result was a vibrant showcase of student voice, ownership, and pride in learning.

Excitement filled the campus as students paraded through the main hallway and into the gym while music played across the school intercom system. Teachers and classmates lined the route, cheering and celebrating one another’s creativity and effort. The parade route continued through the gym before looping back through the hallways, creating a full-school celebration of literacy and language.

Adding to the special event, third-grade students from Iwakuni Intermediate School joined as honored guests. The older students came to spectate, celebrate, and encourage their younger peers. They proudly carried vocabulary posters they had created, reinforcing the importance of academic language across grade levels and modeling a culture of literacy leadership within the school community.

The Vocabulary Parade highlighted how literacy extends beyond books and into authentic, joyful learning experiences. By connecting vocabulary development with creativity, collaboration, and schoolwide celebration, students strengthened language skills while building confidence and community.

Events like this reflect M.C. Perry Primary School’s commitment to fostering a love of reading, expanding academic language, and creating meaningful learning experiences for every student.