Farmington West District Students Talk to Local Author

Submitted

West District students had the opportunity to hear from a distinguished alumni this week! First time author, mother and nurse, Kelly Smith Papa, returned to her elementary alma mater to share her book, Isabella’s Blizzard Party.

Students in Kindergarten through Second grade got to hear Kelly read her story and talk about how it came to be. The book was inspired by Kelly’s daughter, Isabella and illustrated by her mother, Patricia Clark Smith. In a spirit that has echoed the halls at West District throughout the year, the book is about giving.

Children enjoyed the book and brainstormed ideas on how to put together a birthday blizzard party bag that they could donate to the Farmington Food Pantry. They witnessed first hand, how someone who learned in their same classes and walked their very halls, wrote and published a book!.

The fourth grade student council has adopted the theme in “Isabella’s Blizzard Party” for the month of February and they will be collecting items to contribute to birthday bags. The Student Council is led by co-advisors, Christina Garrity, and fourth grade teacher, Michelle Donaldson McKenney, a fellow West District classmate of Kelly’s.

The group will be collecting items such as: cake mix, frosting, candles, party decorations, small gift, cards, large bag to hold it all. Isabella had the idea that every child should have a birthday party and the students at West District are making sure they do their part in accomplishing that.