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03/06/2018 12:03 PMOn Read Across America Day (March 2) students arriving at Totoket Valley Elementary School (TVES) were greeted by 44 North Branford High School (NBHS) students who lined the halls to motivate them to continue reading. TVES is the town's grade 3 - 5 elementary school.
These high school students, known as the Dream Team, are a group of mentors who work with the TVES during the school year. They support classrooms with small group instruction, character education lessons, whole school events, and generally motivating and inspiring the elementary students. At Read Across America Day, in partnership with high school teacher and Dream Team leader Nicole Lacroix, these students took the lead after welcoming students.
The day's opening assembly and reading rally included Dream Teamers leading students in a pledge to commit to reading. The team also shared a video they created at NBHS to introduce the "One School, One Book" campaign; to help inspire students and staff as they spend the coming weeks reading and discussing the book, "Fish in a Tree" by CT author Lynda Mullaly Hunt.
The Dream Team also highlighted poems and student presentations from TVES classes during the assembly, which concluded with another Dream Team video featuring an original song inspired by "Fish in a Tree" and the book's themes of diversity, accepting differences, and overcoming adversity.
Later on March 2, Dream Team students partnered with their TVES classes to teach interactive, student-led lessons about "Fish in a Tree" and its themes, to help build student excitment about the "One School, One Book" project.
Developed by library teacher Carrie Seiden, "One School, One Book" will have all TVES students, classes, teachers and support staff reading the book and sharing ideas and reflections during the coming weeks at school. NBHS Dream Team students will also be reading the book so they can share in the learning.
Read Across America Day at TVES ended with quiet, sustained reading throughout the school. Students lined the halls and got comfortable with their books as did all staff members. The entire school was engaged with a book of their choice for 30 minutes as a great way to honor Read Across America Day.
"I am simply blown away with the amount of time and preparation that went into today, by Mrs. Lacroix and each high school student," said TVES principal Carter Welch, Ed.D., on March 2. "Their commitment to our school continues to impress me, their service to their community is amazing, and their poise, leadership, and professionalism is second to none. Mrs. Lacroix and these students made the day here at TVES... the day was about learning and community; and is a special event due to the connection among our students and the opportunity to have our high school students teach and mentor our elementary students. I am truly honored to be part of the learning, passion, and district collaboration by so many and our students are so lucky to be influenced by a community focused on care and learning."