Dear KES Parents:
Today our school embarked on a special project: an all-school book club called One School, One Book. Thanks to a generous grant from the Kirtland Education Foundation, each student has received a copy of the same book: Victoria J. Coe’s Fenway and Hattie, and will be asked to read it at home according to the schedule below. I am personally asking you to make the time so your family can participate in this special activity.
Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader. It is also a fun and worthwhile family activity. With the One School, One Book program, we aim to further build a community of readers at our school. Everyone -- students, parents, teachers, office staff, cafeteria staff, bus drivers and custodial staff will be participating so we can all reap the many benefits of the program. I encourage you to tweet out pictures of your family (including any of your own four legged friends) reading the book to @KESHornets and #hornetpride.
One School, One Book is a unique program in that children at all grade levels will be listening to and/or reading the same book. Reading professionals recommend reading material aloud that is beyond your child’s reading level. Reading chapter books with your children, even when they are able to read by themselves, is also beneficial. We have selected a title that can be followed, understood and enjoyed by younger students, but that will still captivate and interest older children.
Your child received his/her copy of Fenway and Hattie following a special school-wide assembly where we introduced the program and the book. Attached to this letter you will find the reading schedule along with tips for reading aloud with your child. Generally, you will be asked to read a chapter a night which will take no longer than 15 minutes. Additionally, if you would like to hear staff members reading the various chapters, you may visit the Kirtland Elementary home page where you will find a link to the One School, One Book page.
Your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions via the Kirtland Elementary home page to encourage and reward attentive and active listening. You will soon find out that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. Throughout the building there will be various activities which will further enrich the reading experience. You will want to make sure that your family stays current with the reading so your child will fully appreciate all that we have planned. We also have a great deal of the Kirtland community involved with this book. Local businesses will have a poster of Fenway and Hattie hidden in their building. Students need to let an employee know they found it and possibly answer a question or two. Then your child will receive an initial on his or her Scavenger Hunt Log to receive prizes at school. Your child will be bringing his/her Scavenger Hunt Log home today which includes a list of the participating businesses.
With your help, we hope to make the next few weeks a time where everyone is talking about the adventures of Fenway and Hattie. Happy Reading!
Sincerely,
Chad VanArnhem, Principal