Head O’ Meadow Holds The First In A Series Of Book Fairs

By Eliza Hallabeck

As the first in the series of Scholastic Book Fairs that will be happening in the school district, Head O’ Meadow elementary school welcomed students into the library media center this week with books ready for inspection.

The book fair started Monday, September 8, and will continue through September 16. The fair coincides with the planned parent teacher open houses.

Johanna Kurkcu, a volunteer mom, said on September 11 that she got to come in and help when her son’s class came in to look at the books for sale.

“It’s cute,” said Mary Moccio, another volunteer parent at the Library Media Center that day, “because a lot of them talk to other classes. They come in and a lot of the students already know which book they want.”

Ms Moccio said she volunteered on three days of the event, and Ms Kurkcu said she volunteered for two of the days.

The girls who come through the book fair have been “going crazy for Hannah Montana” books, according to Ms Kurkcu.

“The older boys like the sports books a lot,” said Ms Moccio.

When the students visit the book fair, they are given a pencil and clipboard with a wish list on it. The students can fill out the wish list and bring it home to their parents. When the parents come in for their student’s open house, they have the opportunity to visit the book fair and purchase the books on their child’s wish list.

The book fair at Head O’ Meadow this year was coordinated by Kelly Walker, a volunteer parent of a student at the school.

“Last year I helped out,” said Ms Walker, “and just seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and the parents, I decided to chair it this year.”

Ms Walker said she started working with Scholastic in August for the two-week event.

“With the older kids it is really nice,” said Ms Walker, “because the parents can send them in with money, and it teaches them to manage money.”

Scholastic has a headquarters in Danbury, and Ms Walker said it has helped to benefit the project.

“Kids can request books that they do not see on the shelves,” she said.

Having parents help at the book fair is wonderful for the students, Ms Walker said, because they can help guide the students to books that are appropriate for them.

“It is a great way to help out and get involved at the school,” said Ms Walker.

Other schools in the district will be holding their own Scholastic Book Fairs soon. Ms Walker said the women who put on the last couple book fairs at Head O’ Meadow — Linda Hess, and the librarians at the school and the parents who volunteered — were phenomenal at putting this year’s book fair together.