Brentwood Unbound: My Brother’s Keeper Book Fest

Brentwood, N.Y. (February 2020)—Brentwood Union Free School District (BUFSD) will be promoting early literacy through a My Brother’s Keeper community initiative, MBK Book Fest, during the weekends of March and April. The event will feature guest speakers from the community, a bookmark making station, and each student will receive a free book from the Book Fairies’ and Delta Sigma Theta’s generous donations.

“The My Brother’s Keeper Community Initiative is organized to prepare young people with getting a healthy start by entering school ready to learn,” said Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education at BUFSD. “Together, we are promoting early literacy by reclaiming downtime for children as an opportunity to learn by partnering with local businesses to establish reading centers in unlikely places.”

Each date during the book fest will be facilitated by a Brentwood MBK student and feature a guest speaker from the school district or community. New York State Senator Phil Boyle and his wife will be the guest reader on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at SuperSudz Laundromat. Brentwood Rotary President Ms. Jackie Merriweather will be the guest reader on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Pronto of Long Island in Bayshore. Brentwood Superintendent of Schools Mr. Richard Loeschner accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Loeschner, will be the guest readers on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at Anthony’s Barbershop. Various emergency service members of the Brentwood Fire Department (BFD), Brentwood Legion Ambulance (BLA), and Suffolk County Police Department will be the guest readers on Saturday, April 25, 2020, at HRH Care Community. Each pop-up book fest will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

“This event is a phenomenal opportunity for our high school students to serve as mentors to our younger students in the district,” said Mr. Loeschner,. “As teachers and administrators, it’s our job to act as leaders and role models to our students. The district strives to provide unique opportunities that promote mentorship and literacy among our students at all levels. On behalf of the district and Board of Education, I would like to thank our students for their commitment, as well as the members of the community who have helped bring this initiative to fruition.”

For more information about the Brentwood Union Free School District, please visit the district’s website at www.brentwood.k12.ny.us. Happenings in the district can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BrentwoodUnionFreeSchoolDistrict.