Roosevelt Students Collect Books for Long Beach School

This story was submitted by Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District's Tom Gould.

Ms. Skoczdopole’s second grade class at the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School practiced and prepared and proudly presented the Readers Theater production on February 12, 2013.  The students did a wonderful job presenting Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, by Eileen Spinelli.   This book is the Roosevelt February Book of the Month.  The story is about a lonely man whose predictable and dreary life is transformed when he comes to believe that someone loves him.  Just the thought of someone taking an interest in him completely changes the way Mr. Hatch feels about himself and the way he interacts with his neighbors and co-workers.

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The second graders in Ms. Skoczdopole’s class extended the story’s theme of kindness by starting a book drive to come to the aid of the West School, an elementary school in Long Beach.  The school suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Sandy.  Many of West’s classroom libraries were completely destroyed.  West School lost the entire first floor of their school during the hurricane.  On that floor there were 9 classrooms of Kindergarten through 2nd grade students.

The book drive began on January 25th and lasted until February 12th.  Ms. Skoczdopole’s class made signs and went around to every class to promote and discuss the reason for donating to the West School.  The West School is similar in size and layout to Roosevelt, so it motivated the children to donate even more.  Every class had their students drop off books and a few parents donated checks.  Ms. Skoczdopole was able to purchase 150 books from Scholastic.

Fifteen boxes of books were collected.  All in all well over 500 books were donated to the West School.  Monetary donations were donated via the Long Beach School web site in the name of our school district.  The Oyster Bay High School Interact Club pledged to donate $300 towards this book drive.  The West School students are currently attending school at another location, but preparations are being made for them to return to their home school as soon as possible. Ms. Skoczdopole’s students are asking you to help by donating books for the West School.  The books will be delivered to the West School along with notes of encouragement and support from the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School second grade students.

Parents, family and friends were very proud of the students and enjoyed the Readers Theater performance.  Everyone had a wonderful time.

Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School Principal, Ms. Gina Faust had this to say about the Readers Theater program.

”As educators, we know that children learn best when learning is put into context.  We need to provide our students with a variety of explanatory strategies.  Strategies that meet all learning styles.  Students must be able to make meaningful connections between what they have already learned and new learning.  

Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”   This Chinese proverb rings true…

One way we do this is through Readers Theater.  Reader’s Theater emerged from the work of site based teams several years back.  The goal was to integrate reading, art and music as enrichment.  It has grown to also incorporate writing, social studies, social issues and of course technology to encourage teamwork, build confidence, improve reading fluency and support artistic expression as well as motivate the reluctant reader. 

Roosevelt’s literacy coach, Christine Bartell, and school librarian, Roseann Davidson, collaborate with the second grade teachers (and our art, music and technology teachers) to plan and carry out all of the elements of our Readers Theater Presentations.”  Roosevelt Art Teacher, Stephanie Miley always does a great job with the backdrop.