This year marks the 20th year of Sandy Hook Elementary School’s One School One Read program, and it is the biggest year yet, thanks to the effort combining with Hawley Elementary School, due to that school building being closed to students for the school year.

The Sandy Hook and Hawley One School One Read kicked off on October 24 with an assembly in Sandy Hook’s cafetorium. The day was also the end result of a month-long buildup led by Sandy Hook Language Arts Consultant Cynthia McArthur that offered clues for students to guess what this year’s One School One Read book would be.

Then, at the October 24 event a “pig” and a “spider” revealed the book for the students: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Charlotte’s Web was the first book read by the entire school for Sandy Hook’s first One School One Read 20 years ago, and it was chosen again to celebrate the 20th year.

“Students in both schools erupted with enthusiasm as the book title was revealed,” Sandy Hook School Lead Teacher Carla Tischio shared in an email. “Each class and grade level will use a combination of read aloud, independent reading, and at-home reading to complete the book. It’s all about creating enthusiasm for reading and developing home-school connections.”

Both schools will spend a month reading the book, and different activities will be held throughout the month. Guest readers, for instance, visited the school on Friday, October 28, to read portions of the book to classrooms. Guest readers included Superintendent of Schools Chris Melillo, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, and retired Sandy Hook School Principal Donna Pagè.

When Pagè was ready to read to students on October 28, she held a special copy of Charlotte’s Web. It was her copy of the book from Sandy Hook School’s first One School One Read event.

Education Editor Eliza Van can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.