Middle Gate Birthday Book Club Has First Celebration Of The School Year

By Eliza Hallabeck

Library/media specialist Heather LeBlanc and library educational assistant Deborah Villa welcomed students to Middle Gate School’s library on Tuesday, October 12, for this school year’s first Birthday Book Club.

Ms LeBlanc said parents can sign students up for the Birthday Book Club through the school’s PTA newsletter, and for a suggested donation of $15, students’ birthdays are celebrated with breakfast and by having a book donated to the library in their name.

“It’s really fun,” said Trevor Bottom, a fourth grader who has attended the Birthday Book Club since kindergarten, “because you get to chose a book and then they put your name in it.”

Ms LeBlanc said students can chose books from a collection, and, once the student selects the book they would like to donate to the library, the student will bring the book home to share with his or her family before donating it to the library.

Trevor said he selects the book he would like to donate each year by deciding which of the books he would most like to read himself. After the books are returned to the library with signed permission slips, the selector’s name is printed in the book on a plaque.

Second grader Carley Nuzzo said she likes attending the Birthday Book Club because she likes having her breakfast at school.

During breakfast, which included bagels, grapes, and a choice of beverage, Ms LeBlanc asked each student how they celebrated or will celebrated their birthdays.

Tuesday’s club meeting celebrated students with birthdays in August, September, or October.

While waiting to receive their books, kindergartener Eleanor Glassman said, “Happy birthday to all of us.”

Students can sign up for the Birthday Book Club throughout the school year through the school’s PTA newsletter.