One School One Book Initiative in Chester

By Dr. Christina Van Woert

This summer, all Black River Middle Schools students and staff were engaged in a new project titled ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK initiated by Mrs. Janet Aronson, BRMS Library/Media Specialist and Mrs. Michele Connahan, Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher. 

Every student and staff member in the school read Schooled by Gordon Korman. Schooled is a about a young man named Cap who doesn’t exactly fit in at his new middle school.  Through the novel, students are able to follow Cap’s relatable journey as he and his fellow students evolve and come to understand each other.  By the end of the novel, Cap is welcomed and appreciated.  Last week, students and staff met in their first Advisory Sessions to engage in a literary critique of the novel and further analyze the relevance it has to each of their lives. They were also able to explore the commonalties in understanding uncovered in reading the work together as a school community.  The experience helped highlight overall how essential literacy is to all of our life journeys, from childhood to old age.

For more on what is happening throughout the Chester School district, check out Van Woert's newsletter online.