Two Middle School Students in Croton Contributed to R.J. Palacio's New Book

From the Croton-Harmon School District

Two Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School students were honored at the Oct. 2 Croton-Harmon Board of Education meeting for an extraordinary achievement – having their handwritten precepts published in a book by New York Times bestselling author R.J. Palacio.

Emma Campanella and Grace Reyer received notes from the author herself a few months ago congratulating them on being selected for inclusion in “365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts.”

“The sixth-grade classes have used her first book, “Wonder,” as a class read-aloud for the past three years,” said teacher Dawn Giordano. “It is an amazing book to start the year with. It pulls on our heartstrings and is a beautifully written story.”

Palacio’s new book was published this summer, with a precept for each day of the year. The author asked students from around the country to submit their own precepts for consideration. Reyer and Campanella had their quotes chosen from a pool of about 1,200 submissions and are published alongside famous names such as Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Confucius and Sappho.

Campanella’s precept, which appears along the date of June 25, reads: “Sail the ocean even when others stay on the shore.”

Reyer’s May 7 precept says: “Follow your dreams. It may be a long journey, but the path is right in front of you.”

Board President Giuseppina Miller and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fuhrman were among those who personally congratulated the seventh-graders.

Dr. Fuhrman said the students’ recognition aligns with the district’s mission to address the total needs of the child by recognizing each child is different and by working together to bring out their true potential.

“Our classes were thrilled,” said Giordano. “I ran into the bookstore and couldn’t wait to see their precepts published.”

Photo Caption (From left): Board of Education President Giuseppina Miller, PVC student Grace Reyer, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fuhrman, PVC student Emma Campanella, teacher Dawn Giordano and teacher Lauren Scollins.