The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is March 2, 2021, but in MSAD 11, we truly celebrate reading all year long. Promoting reading, curiosity, and learning is at the heart of programs in our MSAD#11 libraries and with Gardiner Public Library to promote literacy with excitement.
At Gardiner Area High School librarians, Debra Butterfield and Kristina Wheelock, partnered with English classes, Book Club, National Honor Society, Interact, and the Civil Rights Team, and students have recorded 66 terrific videos of themselves reading stories to be enjoyed by elementary students in our district. Later this month, high school students and staff are invited to attend a virtual author visit by national award-winning author, Jessie Ann Foley. Along with other students across Maine, students will also be voting for their top pick in the North Star YA Award to identify our state’s favorite title.
In the Gardiner Regional Middle School Arthur R. Warren Library, librarians, Tabitha Stephenson and Amelia Beiermeister, are making sure to promote the 2021 Maine Student Book Award Nominees to all students in library class and those who come to browse books. Students are also encouraged to browse the ebook and audiobook versions on Sora, our online platform.
During Falcon Time, the building-wide study hall, they have to regulate how many students are allowed in the library, but they still get as many students as they can on a daily basis. Their mission is to get books in kids’ hands, and they do their very best to give them every opportunity to read! Pre-pandemic, GRMS had a bus on Thursdays that would transport students to the Gardiner Public Library. Although that opportunity is lost to us for now, students are still able to check out books with their GPL cards.
Throughout March, the Helen Thompson school will be entering the arena of Book Bracket Madness- a battle of the books. The top eight nonfiction and fiction books will scrap their way to the top of the heap hoping to be named HT's Book of the Year. HT students will also bring their creative energy to a themed Spirit Week and have a chance to hear some virtual guest readers. This schoolwide challenge is promoted in the library and through library classes with Ashley Morency, the librarian. And Reading Bingo will have everyone filling in those squares all month long with prizes to match how much they completed.
At Laura E. Richards Barbara. Gipson, the librarian, and staff are promoting videos created by high school students along with those created by virtual guest readers. Students are also enjoying a Dr. Suess strawberry shortcake at lunch.
At Pittston-Randolph Consolidated School last week in library class with the school librarian, Freda Keyser, students decorated their favorite book for a colorful and imaginative display outside the library. They were also invited to join in on Reading Bingo fun this week. Finally, teachers will share with their classes a collection of recordings of surprise “guest readers”.
This week at River View Community School students will be showing off their imaginations by decorating their favorite book cover, discovering the fun of Reading Bingo, and listening to a recording from guest readers.
Gardiner Public Library (GPL) is also a huge player in the Read Across America celebrations.
Getting ready for the big event usually involves a wonderful visit to the GPL Children’s Room to pick a variety of titles for high school students to read to elementary students. And even though the pandemic didn’t allow for a guided visit, Children’s Librarian, Ginni Nichols, selected a great assortment of titles.
This year young adult librarian and archivist, Dawn Thistle, became a member of the GAHS Library Commons Book Club. Library Director, Anne Davis, leads with a “yes, and…” attitude, so when she learned the most recent GAHS Book Club title selection would be expanded to staff along with students, she helped arrange to share in the funding for the book copies.
Through a recent Gardiner Public Library Maine Bicentennial project and the On the Kennebec series, several Gardiner Area High School staff have discovered so many treasures in the Archive Room. Dawn Thistle continues to help school librarians and staff find gems at Gardiner Public Library that help bring history to life through the perspective of the local lens.
Scott Handville, Assistant Director, and Ann Russell, Technology Librarian, graciously process applications for K-12 students in MSAD #11 so each student can be issued a GPL card.
Through recent years, the entire GPL staff and the middle school library have partnered to have a weekly after-school program for students. The high school Library Commons and GPL offer a three-day summer Human Element Institute for high school students. The much-loved summer reading program is a summer vacation highlight for elementary students, along with many programs offered throughout the year.
Teachers, whether they live in the district or not, are able to have a GPL card to check out books that support classroom initiatives. These materials allow us to supplement our classroom and library offerings to students. The collaboration MSAD #11 has with Gardiner Public Library beautifully expands the resources and expertise we can provide our students.
Join us today as we celebrate Read Across America and the rich opportunities available in our MSAD 11 libraries and Gardiner Public Library all year long. Maybe ask what your student has been reading from the school library or make a trip to Gardiner Public Library, so your student can use the library card. Make space and time together to enjoy some reading, whether it be on the couch together or listening to a book in the car on a road trip. Reading can take us to places we can’t go right now and allow us to dream of amazing possibilities.