STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Jenkins Elementary School 4th Grader Aiden Contes
Posted: December 17, 2025
Aiden Contes often reads books, peruses library shelves looking for books to check out and talks about stories and fun facts that he learns from reading.
The Jenkins Elementary School fourth grader got lots of company and a story in common to talk about during Newport News Public Schools' One City Reads city-wide reading initiative. Since November 17, Contes has been joined by not only his entire school, but every elementary school student and many community members, in reading "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate.
Jenkins' numerous activities around One City Reads include a daily trivia question about the book and 10 minutes of reading aloud each morning. Fourth graders will do a project researching silver back gorillas, which figure prominently in the book.
"Today's question was what was Ivan's name originally when his parents named him?" Contes said. "And it was actually pretty easy because I know the answer from the book."
He's very ready to read the sequel, "The One and Only Bob." Reading is both a school activity and a hobby for Contes, who also serves as a morning show personality, tells lots of jokes that he gets from joke books, and balances chores such as walking his family's dog with doing his homework after school.
"My real passion on reading is the 'Dog Man' series of comic books by Dav Pilkey," Contest said. "And I love the back story."
According to Pilkey's book "Big Jim Believes," which Contes got at a book fair, Pilkey's second grade teacher ripped apart his comics and discouraged him from pursuing a life spent creating them.
"But fortunately, he wasn't really a good listener," Contes said, describing how Pilkey went on to create "Captain Underpants," "Dog Man," the "Dog Man" sequels and "Cat Kid Comic Club."
"Reading can be good to learn new words," Contes said. "It can be educational. It can be all about fiction, non-fiction, realistic fiction. I know realistic fiction is where things could happen in real life, but the thing's animated. Fiction is animals talking; kind of like this kind of when Ruby, Bob, Stella and Ivan are talking."
He is very interested in science and his favorite subject is Virginia studies. Contes is an active participant in the school's turn and talks, when students take turns participating in short discussions of lessons.
His teacher described him as an enthusiastic learner, engaged, kind to his classmates, a great student and community member.
"I love school," Contes said. "I'm always ready to learn."
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