As part of their celebration of National Reading Month, the students of Sunderland Elementary School (SES) are making a long term investment in their community.
In March, they chose a book that everyone, students, teachers, and staff would read. “Our school comes together to acknowledge the importance of reading,” says SES Principal Jenn Turner. “The book becomes the foundation on which we conduct a number of related activities to build a family of readers.”
This year, the school selected the children’s novel “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate. The main character is an old red oak tree who communes with animals and receives wishes from the local townspeople who write out and hang their hopes on its branches. With a focus on compassion, friendship, and tolerance, the book offers important messages on inclusivity and community action.
In line with that theme, the Sunderland Elementary Annual Read-A-Thon plays a vital role in the school’s month-long festivities.
“We put aside a two week period and set a school-wide goal for minutes read during that time,” says SES librarian Lisa Gaiotti. “This year we crushed our target with over 20,000 minutes read, twice as much as our 10,000 minute goal."
Adding to the celebratory excitement, the student goal-breaking Read-A-Thon performance resulted in a fundraising effort that totaled $3,400. The proceeds will go to the school library and the Parent Teacher Group to fund future student activities at the school.
To acknowledge the achievement, Sunderland held a family breakfast on March 19th. Top readers in each class were announced and received gift certificates to Northshire Bookstore. The school’s own “Wishtree” was unveiled in the gymnasium with wishes from students and staff hung on its branches. Parents added their own dreams to the tree.
At the breakfast Turner announced the purchase of a red oak sapling to be donated to the Town of Sunderland. At its last meeting in March, the Sunderland Selectboard voted to accept the gift of the tree and it will be planted near the Town Hall later this spring.
“There are two reasons for this gift. First, in the spirit of the book, we want to make a contribution to our community,” says Turner. “Just as important, we want our red oak to grow and serve as a memory for all our students. When they look at that tree in the future they will remember their time together at our school.”
(Photo above: These Sunderland students earned gift certificates from the Northshire Bookstore for their reading effort during the Read-A-Thon.)
Sunderland students stand next the red oak sapling that will be planted near the Sunderland Town Hall later this spring.
This Sunderland student holds up her wish that is hung on the "Wishtree."
Families sat down for breakfast at Sunderland Elementary to celebrate literacy during National Reading Month.