Both Hawley Elementary School and Head O' Meadow Elementary School celebrated reading the week of Monday, May 9, to Friday, May 13.

Hawley and Head O' Meadow held multiple activities throughout the week to celebrate reading.

Author Melissa Stewart visited both schools to offer presentations for students. She also signed copies of her books to be distributed to students through the PTAs at both schools.

 

Hawley

For Hawley Loves To Read week, the school held numerous activities.

"We're so excited to have the wonderful author Melissa Stewart to help us celebrate Hawley Loves to Read Week," said Hawley library/media specialist Sara Wasley.

For Ms Stewart's visit to Hawley, Ms Wasley said students in each grade level dressed up based on one of Ms Stewart's books.

Ms Stewart shared the story behind her book No Monkey, No Chocolate with students during one of her presentations Tuesday.

An all-school book swap was organized and run by the school's PTA on Thursday. Students brought in a book to donate to the event, and after visiting the school's multipurpose room, where all the books were set up, the students brought home a different book.

"It's got stickers in here!" one student said, after picking up a book.

Kindergartener AJ Soto said he liked the book he chose to bring home because it had a clock with movable hands on its cover.

For Friday, staff and students dressed up as fictional characters. Ms Wasley dressed as Olivia from a book series by the same name. Ms Wasley was not alone with choosing the fictional pig to portray. Walking down a hallway at the school, Ms Wasley was greeted by two other Olivias on Friday.

Head O' Meadow

Head O' Meadow kicked off its Children's Literature Week on Monday when guest visitors stopped by classrooms to read books by Ms Stewart. Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander and First Selectman Pat Llodra were two of the visiting readers for the day.

Faculty and staff dressed as fictional characters on Tuesday. Head O' Meadow library/media specialist Bev Bjorklund dressed as Madeline from the book series by the same name.

On Wednesday, Ms Stewart stopped by the school. She held sessions with different grades throughout the day. For some grades Ms Stewart shared presentations, and for others she held writing sessions.

Students and their family members were invited to the school Thursday evening, when a pajama party was held in the school's cafetorium.

"It was a lot of fun," said Ms Bjorklund following the event.

During the evening, bedtime stories were read out loud, and a "reader's theater" was held, with the story of "Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues" acted out. Students also ate cookies and drank milk at the pajama party.

Friday was "Poem in a Pocket" day at Head O' Meadow. Ms Bjorklund said students carried poems around to share with other school community members.

Overall, Ms Bjorklund said the week was "a big success."