This year’s Great Bend Reads Initiative will feature the book “Zoey & Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows,” by Asia Citro.
If kids enjoy “Dragons and Marshmallows,” there are eight more Zoey and Sassafras books in this series, which has been labeled a “Teachers’ Pick” on Amazon.com.
The annual reading initiative started here in 2015 to promote the enjoyment of reading and boost student literacy skills by reading a well-loved children’s book. This year it is sponsored by Great Bend USD 428 and presented in partnership with the Great Bend Public Library and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Numerous local business sponsors will participate in community events to promote the “GB Reads” activities.
USD 428 librarians Holly Tittel, Great Bend Middle School, and Rebecca Lehew, GBHS, along with Lincoln Elementary Technology Coach Lindsay Mazouch, talked about the event and other library news at the Nov. 14 Board of Education meeting. They noted that children receive their own copies of the book in English or Spanish so they can take them home and read them with a family member.
“This is a good opportunity to promote literacy at home,” Tittel said.
Reading together strengthens parent-child relationships and promotes school, family and community engagement, sponsors said.
Although the book is aimed at younger readers, older students will have opportunities to get involved.
Lehew also talked to the school board about Sora, a reading app with e-books and audiobooks, that is offered to the school district for free through the Central Kansas Library System.
“Students still prefer print books,” Lehew commented, but the program has several good features, such as a global book club that students can participate in.
Contributions approved
Also last Monday, the school board approved the latest contributions and grants:
• GBHS Panther Pantry received $485 from the GBHS Panther Booster Club and $500.60 from the GBHS Class of 1957
• GBHS Honor Society received $100 from the GBHS Class of 1977
• GBHS Activities Department received $850 from Hoegemeyer Hybrids for the purchase of concession popcorn
• GBMS received $100 from Stueder Contractors for teacher appreciation supplies
• Riley Elementary received $261.97 in reward incentive contributions from Kroger.
Superintendent Khris Thexton also noted that the GBHS Booster Club paid entrance fees for high school students to support the Panther football team during the first-round playoff game against Eisenhower Goddard on Oct. 28. The Booster Club also covered the cost of GBHS student tickets to the Nov. 4 football playoff game at Salina Central. That amount has not yet been reported.
