‘One School, One Read’ Huge Success At Sandy Hook

By Tanjua Damon

The Sandy Hook School community was sorry to see it come to an end. The “One School, One Read” pilot program, in which the entire school read E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, culminated March 20 with an evening full of festivities.

The evening event drew hundreds of people to the school dressed in character. As families arrived they were sent down the hallways to receive a number for a literacy discussion facilitated by teachers at the school. The discussions revolved around themes of the children’s book and what families, students, and adults understood after reading the book.

The school kicked off the program in late February providing each child in the school a copy of Charlotte’s Web. Activities and discussions took place in the classroom each day. Parents were encouraged to read with the children at home, too, and discuss it. The program drew in families, teachers, secretaries, custodians, just about everyone that has some association with the school, according to Principal Donna Pagé, who was pleased with the results of the pilot program.

“It’s been fabulous,” Ms Pagé said. “It exceeded my expectations.”

Over the weeks the school was reading the book, a huge mural in the cafeteria allowed students to write what they liked about the program. Students mentioned the vocabulary words they learned, the letters they wrote to the book characters, their teachers using different voices to read, the decorated hallways, the mystery readers, making webs, and the feeling of being together.

“I just think it’s the most exciting thing to hear children come in the morning talk about the book and leaving in the afternoon talking about the book,” Assistant Principal Cathy Mazzariello said. “The vocabulary has developed in the children.”

Children have been excited since the very beginning. Reading and language arts consultant Judie Mitten said a kindergartener approached her the day the program was announced and said, “Something’s going on here. I don’t know what it is, but it has to do with the farm.” She is pleased with the way the school community grasped the program.

“I am thrilled with the learning that has taken place. The excitement the children have exhibited. The vocabulary they have come up with,” Ms Mitten said. “They stop you in the hallway and tell you something. They understand books have messages.”

During the literary discussion groups the families made a web with yarn by answering a question or describing something they liked about the book.

Parents were thrilled with idea to add to reading encouragement at home as well as a way to feel united with the school.

“I thought it was a great idea. It brought the whole school together on one topic,” parent John Hasselberger said. “We read a lot at home already, but this reinforces it.”

“We absolutely loved it. Anything that will get the family to spend time together. This was a good thing,” parent Christine Crudo said. “This promotes reading. It’s an outstanding book.”

The students had the same sentiments as their parents and teachers. Ashley Meisenheimer was already rereading the book.

“It was so interesting to me,” Ashley said. “It was just really fun for me to read.”

“I thought it was great,” Gary Braun said. “I learned not to judge a book by its cover.”

Families voted for their favorite book characters at the end of the evening as well as enjoyed some popcorn thanks to Berkshire Foods and juice. The school hopes to make this an annual event. Everyone will have to stay tuned to what book will be selected for next year.