Morse School Book Clubs Offer Lunchtime Comraderie

When new Morse School Principal Rosemary Prati suggested to a group of parents that the school's lunchtime book clubs could benefit from expansion, little did she know the groundswell of volunteer participation she'd receive.

"The level of parental support in the Tarrytowns is unparallelled," said Prati, a veteran principal of the New York Public School system.

Prati was also fortunate that one of the parent volunteers is Karen McNally, a literacy consultant with LitLife, Inc.,who works for many Westchester schools.  McNally has served as the coordinator for the lunchtime book clubs, assisting the 20 parent volunteers in planning book club themes, activities and age-appropriate texts.

Book clubs had met at Morse in previous years, but the building then served 2nd and 3rd graders who could read books independently.  Book club meetings centered around book discussion, more like adult groups.

"Morse became a 1st grade and 2nd grade building this year," McNally explains, "and so we needed a model that primarily fostered joyful learning experiences rather than requiring students to decode during lunchtime."

Students have signed up for book clubs based on their interests.  "Topics range from superheroes to flower fairies to presidents to author studies," McNally said.  The proposed topics have been so engaging to students that the clubs have a waiting list of up to 20 children.

First grade book clubs meet once a week for four sessions, to hear a story read by a volunteer and then to do a related activity, such as a craft.  Second grade book groups are providing more opportunity for students to read with age-appropriate independence, led by an adult. Each club has only 6 members, so that each child has an opportunity to see, hear and participate fully. 

Because students from across the 1st and 2nd grade select clubs based on interests, each group's membership is drawn from different classrooms.  "Kids have made new friends through the clubs," McNally said.  "One group of girls who had not know each other is now planning to meet in Patriots' Park to search for flower fairies in the spring."

A second session of book clubs will begin soon.  "We've had to extend the first session because of snow days," volunteer Heidi Torpey-Condon said.

Torpey-Condon has loved her work as a volunteer in the book club program.  "Parents of first graders miss being actively involved in the daily lives of their children and school.  This gives me a chance to share something I love and be in the school in a way that is needed."  Torpey-Condon has signed on to volunteer in session two.

"I'd love to offer clubs year round," Prati said.  "We have a new courtyard with lunch tables right outside my office .  In the spring, clubs could meet there."

Community members interested in volunteering with the book club program may contact the school at 631-4144.