Brookside second-graders show-off their new books during an assembly this week. (The Willits News)
Oscar Fuentes of the Ukiah Masonic Lodge presented a book to every second-grader at Brookside and Sherwood School this week. A total of 135 books were presented as part of the "Raise a Reader" program. This year's book is "101 Animal Records".
Fuentes and Brookside Principal Olga O'Neill distributed the books during the school's monthly assembly. The students were also presented with attendance awards and participated in their regular group singing session.
"We're so grateful for the masons supporting our students in this way," O'Neill said. "There's nothing better than receiving a book to help foster a student's love of reading."
The gift of books was a special moment for Brookside. The campus will spend the summer getting ready to make third-graders comfortable as they remain at Brookside rather than moving on to Blosser Lane Elementary.
"We had a fantastic year at Brookside School. We've seen a lot of student growth," O'Neill said. "We're anticipating next year and we're delighted our third-graders are staying with us."
O'Neill said her staff has been working with the second-graders to learn what would make it special for them as new third-graders.
"This is the first class of third-grade students in about 25 years," O'Neill said.