Congratulations to the Winners of our Fall 2010 Elementary National Contest!
Our first-place winner and recipient of a visit from best-selling author Margaret Peterson Haddix, plus 2,000 Scholastic Dollars™ is:
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Chairperson: Kathy Gorman
Wooster, Ohio
The Book Fair is a much-anticipated event at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School. The fall Fair was their best ever due to outstanding support from the parish priest, principal, teachers, volunteers, and amazing students. Chairperson Kathy Gorman has learned to delegate and spread the work around, building a sense of ownership and investment in the event’s success. Over one third of the school’s families have at least one active volunteer. Every teacher is actively involved in curriculum connections to the theme, promoting to students, and participating in Classroom Wish List. Students volunteered time after school to help create decorations and prepare school-wide commercials shown over the school’s TV system. Students also read books about personal heroes and participated in contests and activities that promoted reading and educational displays.
Their parish priest made a “Leap of Faith” challenge for One for Books®: He would leap over a stack of books dressed in a Superman outfit. Each book would represent one dollar donated to the cause. He made good on the promise and, at a student assembly, easily cleared a large stack of books in front of a large crowd of excited students, teachers, and parents. A second One for Books contest allowed students to vote for their “Goal Reward Event” by placing loose change in the jar of their choice. Students voted for an in-school sleepover, and when the goal was made, enjoyed playing non-electronic games, art activities, pizza, and a movie (and reading of course) before “lights out” at the first-ever sleepover.
Students nominated and wrote about personal heroes as part of themed activities. Local heroes were honored at a school-wide assembly and added to the school’s Hall of Fame. Advertising played a big role in getting the word out to families and the parish community, and the additional interest helped the school smash their previous sales record. Congratulations to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School students, staff, and parents for making their Book Fair such a great event!
Second-place winners of 1,000 Scholastic Dollars, are:
The Shelton School
Chairperson: Ada Hinkle
Dallas, Texas
The school attributes their success to using almost every idea that Scholastic supplies; then volunteers, students, and staff add their own hard work and enthusiasm to get the school community excited about the Book Fair. Activities begin in September at the school’s Open House, where a fully decorated volunteer sign-up table greets parents. This season, 41 parent volunteers signed up to help with the Fair. Once the Fair arrives, the school library is transformed into a fully stocked and decorated Bookstore. Decorations help get students excited about what’s inside, and the hero décor included real-life uniforms to comic book themed merchandising. Advertising to parents outside the school is a priority and large handmade banners are displayed so no one can say they missed the event. Topping off everything they do for the Fair were librarians and other staff and volunteers who dressed in superhero outfits to promote to students.
Union Elementary School
Chairperson: Heather Brown
Temple, Georgia
The school tries to tie their Book Fair theme into the science curriculum. “Creatures of the Night” was the theme this fall so students could learn more about nocturnal animals. Students competed in an art project to make the best nocturnal animal. Over 140 entries were received, and prizes were awarded to the top entries. All the projects were displayed at the Fair, which drew proud students and their families in to shop the Fair. Parent volunteers, high school students and Junior Crew members all helped and were a vital part of the Book Fair success. Mrs. B, the school’s principal, issued a One for Books challenge that students met. As a result, she kissed a nocturnal hamster on the school’s morning newscast. The Atlanta Zoo joined in the fun by making presentations and sharing several real nocturnal animals during student preview day, and teachers participated by sharing their baby pictures in a “Teacher Creatures” guessing game. Other activities that helped to make the Fair a success were a Grand Event, and dress up days.
North Clackamas Christian School
Chairperson: Pam Harris
Oregon City, Oregon
A full week of events was on the schedule for the fall Book Fair at North Clackamas Christian School. Teachers participated in Classroom Wish List; a Hero Lunchtime Matinee was held for students; at a Grand Event, visitors were treated to a play, and reading time with their student; a first-time breakfast event brought in parents to shop who normally can’t make regular Book Fair hours. Advertising efforts included announcements on local business marquees and special invitations for the school community. Donuts were delivered to local heroes inviting them to attend the family event and be honored by the school. That event was packed with special activities for students, special visits with community heroes, and lots of shopping for books.
Kings Ridge Christian School
Chairpersons: Melissa Sutton and Julie Maschino
Alpharetta, Georgia
The school packed their Book Fair with decorations and activities themed around heroes and reading, and promoted it all with innovative ideas that got students excited about shopping for books. Real uniforms were displayed and posters featuring a comic book style layout told stories about real life heroes in the community. The librarian was transformed into “Ruby Reader,” a superhero ready to save the day with reading. Her image was used on bookmarks given away with each purchase, and they became very popular with students. The Media Center Specialist swung into action, too, and dressed in multiple guises to promote the Fair. Students created their own Wall of Heroes and wrote about heroes who were important to them. Students also participated in daily broadcasts on the school’s TV channel along with Ruby Reader. Other activities included a “dress as a superhero” day, fine arts night, pet parade, and a Family Fun Festival.
Click here to see who won the President’s Award for Exceptional Performance.
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance winners (who win 500 Scholastic Dollars) are:
St. Timothy’s Lutheran School
Chairperson: Chris Hindenes
San Jose, California
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (Theme)
The school celebrated their everyday heroes in order for students to learn about and celebrate people in their lives and how they make a difference to the world they live in. Not only did students get to meet these heroes and talk to them, but they also spent the whole week of the Book Fair discussing them and learning lessons about them. At the family event, everyone sang songs as heroes paraded in, and then students sang songs especially for the heroes, each of whom received a gold medal as thanks. It was a night, and a Book Fair, to remember!
Claude Curtsinger Elementary School
Chairperson: Dixie Beadles, Erin Millwater, Alisha Shipley
Frisco, Texas
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (Decorations)
Volunteers spend the week before the Book Fair decorating the school for the event. The decorating helps build anticipation for the whole school community and the excitement begins the minute it starts. As more and more areas of the school get decorated, the excitement builds until events begin. A wall was dedicated for Classroom Wish Lists, and each teacher was represented as a firefighter saving books. Superhero logos were placed on the floor and students loved jumping on them on their way to the Fair. A red schoolhouse represented One for Books. As donations were made, flying loose change slips were added to the sky around the school. Community sponsors were honored with a wall decorated like a hometown in recognition of their generous donations. Students got into the spirit by creating a heroes wall of their favorite literature heroes. The fantastic décor added to everyone’s enthusiasm for the Book Fair and reading.
J.V. Washam Elementary School
Chairperson: Meg Lindekens, Mari Kirchner, Lynne Reinstadtler, Cindy Richardson
Cornelius, North Carolina
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (Student Engagement)
The Book Fair committee used the heroes theme to create many opportunities to engage students and get them excited about the Book Fair. A curriculum activity was created that teachers embraced and students eagerly completed. Students wrote about a personal hero who made an impact in their lives. Each project was displayed on a form in the shape of a star or U.S. flag and was then used to create a Wall of Heroes. To generate more school spirit and enthusiasm, the school’s principal and assistant principal became superheroes supporting the One for Books loose change drive. One superhero earned the opportunity to be slimed on the school’s morning news by the winning class. In all, the drive raised almost $4,000!
William Roberts Elementary School
Chairperson: Suzanne Frachetti
Denver, Colorado
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (Family Event)
With careful planning and the help of fabulous volunteers, the school held a Book Fair that surpassed their wildest imaginations. One of the highlights was the successful Community Hero Read-a-Thon Family Event. Community heroes were asked to read to kids and serve as positive literacy role models. There was a big turnout and everyone had lots of fun. Guests included a local sports team head coach, doctors, nurses, firefighters, police, judges, military, teachers and local authors. The school’s principals acted as the evening’s emcees and left everyone raving about what a great event it was.
Ingomar Elementary School
Chairperson: Sue Pak, Esther Ungarean, Lynn Smokovich
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (One for Books)
Two weeks before the Fair, students started collecting loose change in hopes of surpassing the previous year’s record. One for Books slips were displayed on the wall and a goal chart prominently tracked progress. To encourage more reading and boost contributions, the PTO sponsored a read-a-thon prior to the Fair, and each student that raised $30 for One for Books received a gift certificate to the Fair. An impressive $1495 worth of books were purchased with the donated loose change and donated to the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. The top class was rewarded with an ice cream sundae party.
Olde Sawmill Elementary School
Chairperson: Marilyn Zerby
Dublin, Ohio
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (Grand Event)
The school held their best Book Fair ever by planning and holding their first ever Grand Event. Each day a different grade level had grand guests for lunch and Book Fair shopping. The event was promoted on the school Web site and via invitations sent home with students. The school’s principal used the opportunity to establish good PR among the community’s older voters by shaking hands, handing out flyers, and shooting souvenir photos of the event. The best news of all was students received more books to read thanks to their special guests.
Roosevelt Elementary School
Chairperson: Stephanie Youngs
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (What Would You Do for Reading? Challenge)
The fall Book Fair started off with the announcement of the reading challenge, and soon the whole school erupted in excitement. If students read 50,000 minutes in nine days, principal Ms. Clarksen would spend a day on roller skates. If teachers read 5,000 minutes, she would roller skate in a Wonder Woman costume. The school started getting feedback immediately from parents saying their kids didn’t even ask to watch TV—they just spent the whole night reading! Students and teachers met their goal and principal Clarksen skated to classes and during lunch to classic roller rink music. The school doubled their highest sales ever, but the best reward was seeing how excited students were reading their new books.
Sequoyah Elementary School
Chairpersons: Beth Dibble and Erin Frost
Knoxville, Tennessee
President’s Award for Exceptional Performance (Classroom Wish List)
Teachers helped make this Book Fair super by participating in the special Teacher Sneak Peek and selecting books for their Classroom Wish List. What made it extra special were the Wish List boxes decorated by each class that became part of a contest to win books for the whole class. In addition to the creatively decorated boxes, each teacher was displayed with a superhero mask so students could find their teacher hero. The whole display became a prominent part of the Book Fair décor, and many Wish Lists were fulfilled.
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