DDE Students Participates in One School, One Book

DDE Student Leadership Team

Some very special visitors recently stopped by Donlin Drive Elementary to help students and staff kick off their new reading program.

Raggedy Ann and Mr. Potato Head met with the DDE community to explain how they both became beloved children’s toys. They brought along their friends Lego, Playing Cards and Super Ball to tell their stories as well.

Then the group shared the real reason for the visit - to introduce DDE to the One School, One Book program. The program, made possible by the 501 C(3) non-profit Read to Them, encourages and enables reading at home by providing schools with tools and resources.

Raggedy Ann had the privilege of introducing the book Toys! Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions, written by Don Wulffson and illustrated by Laurie Keller, as the school’s selection.

DDE students in fourth through sixth grades received a copy of the book to read with their families, while kindergarten through third grade teachers received classroom copies and will have pre-recorded guest readers share different chapters with students. Guest readers include Liverpool Central School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark F. Potter, DDE Principal Heather Silvia, reading teacher Stephanie Reed, library media specialist Darcy Barber, art teacher Patricia Bangson, physical education teacher Emily LaFave and first grade teacher Brian Monica.

The DDE Sixth Grade Leadership Team organized the One School, One Book kickoff with the help of Reed and Barber. Leadership team members are Joseph Carbone, Garv Grover, Nahzehia Grant, Ayanna Briggs, Daniella Olmstead, Gabriel Knighton, Skye Howard and Krisiona McCarthy.