Librarian Day Extra Special for Forked River Elementary School Teacher

The Forked Elementary School celebrated National School Librarian Day with some new additions to the school’s media center.

A $5,000 grant from Lowe’s Toolbox for Education was used to purchase new student chairs, tables and install new energy efficient lighting.

“It was pretty exciting,” said Miranda Paris, the school’s librarian. “This brings it all together, all on this special day. It’s very exciting.”

Representatives from Lowes unloaded and set up the furniture. They removed the older chairs and tables and took them to the school storage area. The old wooden chairs will most likely be sold, according to Principal Eric Fiedler, who estimated the chairs dated back to the 1950’s.

The old tables were adult-sized, making them not conducive to the smaller children.

“Even some of the second graders had difficulty sitting properly. These are more suitable,” said Paris. “The new chairs are great. They’re flexible, and the tables adjust."

Music teacher Michael Olender, just a tad larger than the students he teaches, tested out the new seats.

“Very comfortable,” Olender said.

Gifted and Talented teacher Andrea Blatt, was responsible for the writing of the grant.

“The hardest part was getting the ideas. I wrote the first draft then the staff took a look at it. It took hours,” said Blatt, who volunteered her own time in the writing of the grant.

New lighting is planned for the near future. Old fluorescent lights will be replaced by new recessed ones.

“The new lights will be energy efficient,” said Fiedler. “They’ll use 50 percent less energy while providing better lighting.”