Fifth Grader Donates To Hawley

By Eliza Hallabeck

Reed Intermediate School student Clare Boyle recently said she began reading while she was a student at Hawley Elementary School, and that is why, when she won for an entry she wrote for the national reading and writing program for children and young adults, Letters About Literature, Clare choose to donate her winning $1,000 back to her alma mater.

Letters About Literature is a national reading-writing contest that asks entrants to write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, explaining how the author’s work changed the student’s way of thinking, according to the Library of Congress.

Clare said last year, when she was a fourth grade student in Hawley School in Lea Attanasio’s class, Ms Attanasio suggested she submit an entry to Letters About Literature; Clare was named as a finalist at the state level. This year, with her entry on the first book in the Anne of Green Gables series, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Clare received first place in the state and an honorable mention at the National level of the program.

 “I have chosen this library because it was the place that I first learned to love books,” Clare said in a recent press release from Letters About Literature. “Also, I have chosen it in honor of all my wonderful teachers (Lea Attanasio, Tracy Fanelli, and Gail Honeychurch), and especially Doris Papp, the sweetest school librarian in the world. This gift seems appropriate because of our current Board of Education budget cuts due to financial circumstances.” 

She also received a $100 Target GiftCard for her personal use.

“Anne, the main character, is kind of a role model,” said Clare about her choice book for the entry. She added, “Reading about Anne was kind of a way to get connected with my imagination.”

Clare said she enjoys reading, and writing is something that seems to come naturally to her.

“I like fantasy and adventure,” said Clare. She also reads “all of the Nutmegs.”

About the first book in the Anne of Green Gables, Clare said, “I think you have to go into it with an open mind.”

Some things the main character does, Clare said, may make people question the character, like Anne’s inclination to name objects.

The money she is giving to Hawley will help the school’s library.

“I think they are going to use it to buy books,” said Clare.