Broad Brook Elementary begins annual “One School One Book”

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) - Students at Broad Brook Elementary School gathered Thursday to learn what book they’ll all read in the annual “One School One Book” program.

Every student from preschool through Grade 4 was presented with a copy of “Gooseberry Park,” by Cynthia Rylant, a 144-page chapter book released in 1995.

The book follows an assortment of domesticated pets and untamed animals who band together to help a friend in need. The main character, Stumpy, is a squirrel who gives birth to triplets shortly before her nest in Gooseberry Park is destroyed by an ice storm.

Broad Brook Elementary School Principal Laura Foxx announced the choice of the book at Thursday’s assembly.

The program, which is in its seventh year, is designed to promote reading while also bring the community together through reading the same story, according to Elaine Shapiro, the school’s library media specialist of 12 years.

“It encourages a love for reading and it shows families that reading is a fun activity.” Shapiro continued, “It is also a way to further a child’s reading comprehension because when you listen to stories that are read aloud you learn new words and can discuss ideas that you might not understand.”

Shapiro added that once per week a chapter will be read aloud, which will help kids catch up on the story if they are behind at home. The school is also introducing new additions to the month-long festivities.

“This year we’re going to offer trivia questions. So if the kids have been following the story and they can answer the questions, they’ll get a prize. We also post vocabulary words from the book around the school. Towards the very end we will have a big family celebration night too,” Shapiro said.

When asked how the yearly book is selected, Shapiro said it is a team effort by the school’s staff.

“A group of us get together, there’s a committee, anyone can be in it - several teachers and the administrators. We use different websites for suggestions and then we narrow it down. This one was suggest by a fourth-grade teacher a few years ago,” she said.

Christine DeBarge, superintendent of schools, praised the work done by the school’s teachers and administrators.

“This event is a wonderful community-building event that supports our goal of improving literacy. I’m proud of the work the administration and staff do to make this positive and fun,” DeBarge said.

She added: “Offering a unique event increases the excitement for it and increases involvement. We want our students and families to be excited about this event. Students having the ability to read with the adults in their lives not only builds literacy but also enhances relationships.”

After Foxx and Assistant Principal Matthew Ryan announced the book, meteorologist Dan Amarante from WVIT-TV61 treated the students to a presentation about weather.

The assembly concluded with students from each classroom placing their class’s own special item into a custom-made bird’s nest.

After the assembly, Ryan commented on what this event means for students as well as the parents.

“The great part about the whole event is that all the families are reading the same book so that creates opportunities for parents to have something to talk about when they interact with each other,” Ryan said.

Ryan added that the books were purchased through the school’s PTO fund.

Online: https://bit.ly/325XXQv

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