The race is on in Brookhaven.

Dozens of students from Bogue Chitto Attendance Center scattered around Brookhaven Thursday to participate in the school’s first Amazing Race. More students will be in the city today.

School librarian Kim Nelson chose the race as a way to teach the students about the city. The race was part of their accelerated reading theme: “Readers, start your engines.”

“Everything’s centered around racing,” Nelson said. “I had about 135 kids to reach their goal the very first time and 160 children to reach their goal to go bowling during Christmas.”

The accelerated reading program is for students in first to sixth grade. All of the students who made the trip Thursday and those out around Brookhaven today have exceeded their reading goals for the quarter.

“I read 20 books,” first-grader Destiney Porter said. Her goal was 18 books.

Along with the enjoyment reading can bring, Nelson wanted to make sure the students learned new information from the books as well.

“I learned a lot of fancy words and Spanish words in some books,” first-grader Hannah Barr said. “I like Fancy Nancy books.”

The students’ first stop was the Lincoln County District Office to visit former Bogue Chitto principal Mickey Myers. “I thought it would be cool for them to actually see where he works now,” said Nelson.

Myers also shared history about Brookhaven’s school district. Their next stops included the Lincoln County Public Library, Brookhaven Music, Trustmark, Mississippi School of the Arts and Janie’s Pastry. Representatives at those locations all shared history about their business in Brookhaven.

“They shop here in Brookhaven, but I wanted them to know a little bit more about the main town in our county,” Nelson said.

The students were separated into groups and had to work with their adult team leaders to figure out the clues Nelson gave them. The solved clues pointed them to their next location.

The students all seemed to enjoy the race around town, especially the magic tricks performed by magician Mike Cooper at the public library. “It’s really good and amazing,” first-grader Landon Hughes said.