Berlin Public Schools, Peck Library, and Raising Berlin Build a Community of Readers Together

Berlin Public Schools, Peck Library, and Raising Berlin have united forces to help encourage summer reading in Berlin. They have combined their efforts to create a summer reading program that is exciting, challenging, and rewarding for all Berlin students and families.

“One effort at increasing K-8 student participation and engagement is the use of Wandoo Reader to log student summer reading”, explained Danielle Salina, Griswold School librarian. “Wandoo Reader is an online reading program management tool embedded in a game-like experience. All K-8 students have been trained to use this program, and are thrilled to record their summer reading, resulting in the earning of points. Points are then used to “level up” and “purchase” new galactic champions and powers.”

Jennifer Needham, Head of Children’s & Teen Services at the Peck-Memorial Library, has created special Wandoo challenges for K-8 students. Students can earn rewards and entries into Prize Pack drawings. Prizes include a Kindle Fire for Kids, Minecraft items, Movie Ticket Gift Baskets, and other great rewards from the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library. "Students who read and log 1,200 minutes will receive a free book, and earn a bookplate in a new Peck-Memorial Library book when they read 1,500 minutes or more! The library also offers fun programs for families with kids of all ages throughout the summer. Our patrons have been taking out stacks of books and our programs have been filled, with waiting lists, so I know that there's a lot of reading going on out there!”, said Needham.

Deb Thibault, District Literacy/Social Studies Coordinator added “We are trying to promote the importance of summer reading and create fun opportunities to engage our students! Together, we are hoping to prevent the “summer slide”, in which students’ reading levels actually drop when they return in September, due to lack of summer reading.”.

In just two weeks, Berlin Public Schools will be hosting their FIRST EVER K-8 summer book fair! The book fair will be held at Mary E. Griswold School (133 Heather Lane), on Wednesday, July 20th 4-7:00 PM and Thursday, July 21st 10:00-2:00 PM. Griswold School Principal, Laurie Gjerpen was thrilled to host the event, stating “The educators in town know how important it is to read every single day... Even during the summer. To encourage that, we have done several things to keep students engaged. This book fair is a special event that we could not have done without the support of the Griswold Parents Club. We hope to make this an annual event, each year being hosted by a different PTO.”. Tracy Sisti, Griswold School PTO President, added “All elementary students who attend will have their names entered into a lottery for prizes including a fire truck ride to school.” A pizza truck and ice cream truck will also be onsite for the July 20th book fair.

Rachel Rice, LMS at McGee Middle school added - "Incoming McGee students can be entered into a summer raffle by attending the book fair wearing their McGee summer reading T-shirt. The following prizes will be given away at the start of school in September: Berlin Fair ride wristbands, Amazon gift card, Barnes and Noble gift card, ITunes gift card or Game Stop gift card! Incoming 6th graders can also be entered into the raffle by attending the book fair, or sending in a picture of yourself reading this summer to Mrs. Rice at rrice@berlinschools.org. Please be sure to include your name and give credit to the person who took the picture."

Raising Berlin, a non-profit organization of Berlin parents whose goal is to teach and exemplify what being part of a community means while building lasting memories, is also joining in on the Summer Reading fun. “Come join us on July 29th at Zipadelli field (Sage Park) to celebrate our first A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS event!”, invited Jess Garrity, VP of the organization. “Attend this special night of storytelling, family reading, and movie viewing.”. Our storytellers are Teresa Whitaker and Frank Schwartz from the CT Storyteller's Center. They blend music and storytelling and offer an engaging performance. Storytelling time will be followed by family reading time, and a viewing of the movie Zootopia. Arrival begins at 6:30 to ensure that everyone has ample time to be settled by our 7:00 story time. Don’t forget to pack your favorite books for our quiet family reading time, and blanket and snacks for our outdoor movie! (Rain location – Willard Elementary School – Look for updates on the Griswold School website.)

Support the efforts of Berlin Public Schools, Peck Library, and Raising Berlin in building a community of readers together! Questions? Contact Danielle Salina dsalina@berlinschools.org