For the first time, students at Pearl River Central Middle School were able to use computers to create their reading fair projects, but many still opted to make theirs the old fashioned way.

Judging of the projects took place Tuesday morning, with some help from community members including former Assistant Superintendent Nina Gutherie and Pearl River County Library employee Megan Miller.

Each year students are tasked with selecting a book within their literary ability and then present the information contained within through a presentation that utilizes a visual aid. The student is also tasked with presenting that information to the class through a presentation. Assistant Principal Sherra Allen, said the aim of the project is to not only boost each student’s ability to read and also give them experience in speaking in public, all of which is tied to the school’s regular instruction.

Scoring of the projects was a team effort by all teachers to ensure it was fair and consistent. The highest scored projects were sent to the reading fair held Tuesday.

Of the 812 students who submitted a project, 116 were chosen for the fair, Allen said.

Winners of Tuesday’s fair will be sent to the regional fair in Hattiesburg. The winners of that fair will go on to the statewide competition, Allen said. In previous years several students were called to compete at the state level.

Sixth grade language arts teacher Elizabeth McNair said each student put a lot of work into his or her project.

Another positive aspect of the projects is that they bring families together as parents help the students create the boards or power point presentations for display on the school‘s Chromebooks.

Each student had three weeks to read their book and put the presentation together. Students were allowed to choose a fiction or non-fiction book of their liking for the project.

During the reading fair, at least two judges scored each project, the average of which would determine the winners.