One School, One Read At Sandy Hook School

By Laurie Borst

On May 19, Sandy Hook Elementary School kicked off its One School, One Read activity. One School, One Read began several years ago as way for schools to come together as a community based on a shared learning experience. Each school selects a book and all students read the book.

Friday morning’s assembly began with principal Donna Pagé reviewing books SHS had read in past years. Charlotte’s Web, The Trumpet of the Swan, and Cricket In Times Square have been read. Mrs Pagé then introduced Liza Eleoff’s fourth graders who performed their version of the King Midas story. This was a clue to the title of this year’s book. A second clue was given by Connie Sullivan’s third grade class, which sang about chocolate. Large, foil wrapped “kisses” were seen around the cafeteria.

Mrs Pagé invited students to guess the title for this year. Some of the titles offered were Super Fudge, Fudge Fever, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Double Fudge. Finally, with a drum roll provided by the students, Mrs. Pagé unveiled a poster of this year’s book: The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling.

The Chocolate Touch tells the story of John Midas, who gets every young boy’s dream: everything he touches turns to chocolate. At first, John is thrilled. Chocolate toothpaste, chocolate eggs, and chocolate bacon are wonderful. After a couple days, though, John finds he is thirsty but plain water is not to be had. As in the Greek tale of King Midas, John discovers there might be a downside to getting what you want.

When asked why they were doing this activity, Mary Kate Halmose, a fourth grader in Michael Corvello’s class, replied, “We do this because it is really fun. You get to learn new titles. I’m excited to read this book.”

Joshua Hoffman, another of Mr Corvello’s students, offered, “I think it’s going to be really good. I love to read and I love chocolate.”

Teachers like the program because it builds school community and strengthens the home-school connection. It also promotes reading as fun. The students will read the book over the next three weeks. Teachers will be able to incorporate math, science, and social studies into lessons surrounding the story.