School hosts family reading night

Terry Sandusky, Special to The County
8 months ago

Two words bring joy and fun to the students and family members of Mapleton Elementary School — pizza and reading.  

Mapleton Elementary School recently hosted a family reading night. The theme for the evening was “Celebrating Maine Authors.”

 The Mapleton Parent Organization worked with the school educational team and many other volunteers.  To accommodate this special event and all its activities, six reading rooms and two literacy activity areas were prepared.

Students and family members were greeted by friendly volunteers serving the kids’ favorite food – pizza. The Mapleton Parents Organization sponsored Family Reading Night to celebrate many Maine classic stories and help kids discover new favorites.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)

More than 200 individuals participated in this special evening’s activities.  Before the doors opened, kids and family members joined in a line the length of the school building.  There was considerable excitement and anticipation growing as the line grew longer.  Over the years, Family Reading Night has been a standout event for the Mapleton Elementary School community.  

When the doors opened the crowd quickly began entering the school cafeteria.  They were welcomed to the school with pizza and chips, which were enjoyed by everyone. Agendas instructed families on the sequence of reading rooms they would be visiting. There were six rotating groups.  Principal Dan Duprey sounded the school buzzer and announced the times to change rooms so that everyone experienced three reading sessions.

For family reading night, Brian Mosher, music teacher at Mapleton Elementary School, read a book by Maine Author Kevin Hawkes of Gorham. This is the second picture book that Hawkes has both written and illustrated.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)

Readers for the evening were: Judy Kenney, reading “Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey; Dave Allen, reading “Be Quiet!” by Ryan T. Higgins; Ben Greenlaw and Holly Vigue, reading “If I Built a School” by Chris Van Dusen; and Brian Mosher and Jacob Graham, reading “Wicked Big Toddlah” by Kevin Hawkes. 

At the “Celebrating Maine Authors Reading Night” at Mapleton Elementary School, SAD 1 Superintendent Ben Greenlaw read “If I Built a School” by Chris Van Dusen, a Maine illustrator of children’s books and an author from Portland.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)

 Kenney is retired Mapleton Elementary teacher.  Dave Allen is a local photographer.  Jacob Graham teaches at Presque Isle Middle School.  Holly Vigue is a school counselor.  Brian Mosher is the Pre-K through grade 2 music teacher at the school.  Greenlaw is SAD 1 superintendent.

Following the round of reading sessions, students and their families were divided into two groups for literacy activities.  Pre-K through grade 2 kids went to the gym, where they  participated in large motor activities, such as a special lettered hopscotch game, friendship bracelets made with pipe cleaners and letter beads and rolling letter blocks that involved recognition of letters that could be made into simple words.  

Grades 3 through 5 were in the school center with letters that could be made into crosswords and magnetic words that could be used to form acrostic puzzles.

There were two large displays.  One was a map of the state of Maine, and pasted on the map were photos of Maine children’s authors with a handout for families that would help them find books written in Maine for kids.  The second display covered “Maine’s Literary Legends,” especially those who won awards for their writing.  By lifting picture flaps, kids and family members could learn about these celebrated authors. 

Before leaving, students were able to select a book to take home from tables of donated books.  

The Mapleton Parent Organization thanks everyone attending the event.  They wrote, “A huge thank you to each and every one of you who supported, volunteered, and participated in Family Reading Night! We enjoyed having the opportunity to be with our special Mapleton Elementary School community and celebrate education in a fun way!”

Spring Craft Fair 

The Mapleton Daze Committee will be holding their annual Spring Craft Fair on Saturday, April 27, at Mapleton Elementary School.  The fair will open at 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.  

There will be local crafters/vendors available. All are welcome to come and browse the cafeteria, gym and hallways, which will be filled with talented local crafters and vendors.  This event will be just in time to get your gifts and other items for spring and Mother’s Day.

The fair is currently full for crafters and vendors. If you are a crafter or vendor and would like to be put on a waiting list for a possible opening, please reach out to Laurie Boucher or the Mapleton Daze Facebook page for information.

Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916

or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.