Trumpeting The Success

Of One School, One Read

By Larissa Lytwyn

To accommodate the approximately 790 students and parents who participated in Sandy Hook School’s culminating “One School, One Read” event last Tuesday evening, the school’s PTA employed a bus to safely shuttle families to and from the school.

Featuring E.B. White’s The Trumpet of the Swan, the second annual program enjoyed double its number than the previous year’s reading of Mr White’s Charlotte’s Web.

“We have over 95 percent of our staff here tonight!” declared Principal Donna Pagé.

“Everyone from parent volunteers to educational assistants have taken part,” agreed Assistant Principal Kathy Mazzariello.

Over the past month, students have experienced The Trumpet of the Swan in classes ranging from language arts to physical education.

The school even “adopted” a pair of swans through the Trumpeter Swan Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated, according to its mission statement, to assure “the vitality and welfare of wild Trumpet swan populations” in North America.

A contest was held to name the adopted swan pair.

“Not surprisingly, the winning names, hands down, were Lucas and Serena — the two main characters in The Trumpet of the Swan!” laughed Ms Pagé.

The school also acquired sweatshirts with the Trumpeter Swan Society logo and swan-shaped silver pins. All proceeds benefited the Trumpeter Swan Society.

“I thought the book was really funny,” said student Kate Haggerty. “Before we read it I wasn’t sure I would like it. I thought — swans? Trumpets? So what? But it turned out to be great!”

Her friend Karlie Kuligowski agreed. “The book was better than I thought it would be.”

“It was really exciting to see the number of people that came out tonight,” said Jody Price, who read The Trumpet of the Swan with her son, first grader Stephen Price.

“I liked the book,” said Stephen. “It was good!”

Third grade teacher Amy Libby led students and parents into a discussion of the book.

“How can Lucas [be perceived] as a role model?” she asked the group.

“He showed about how it was important to be kind to animals,” replied third grader Nicole Rothenbucher.

Other students agreed.

Nicole’s mother, Amy Rothenbucher said that she enjoyed reading the book with her daughter because of its humor. “It also teaches [the reader] to never give up striving for their dreams,” she said.

Michael DiSibio read a chapter each night to his first grade daughter, Kayla DiSibio.

“I think this program was wonderful for the students,” said Mr DiSibio. “I also enjoyed the discussion group, learning from what others said about different parts of the book.”

Kayla said she liked the book. When asked if it made her want to read more often, she nodded shyly.

“We’d like to get into Charlotte’s Web next,” said Mr DiSibio.

They did not take part in the program last year because the book was considered slightly too sophisticated for kindergarten-aged readers.

At the end of the night, students and parents gathered in the gymnasium to sing popular campfire songs including “On Top of Spaghetti” and “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain.”

Continuing the camping theme, each family also received a bag of homemade trail mix as they left, as well as art materials designed to create Trumpet of the Swan-themed projects.

For more information on the Trumpet Swan Society, visit www.trumpetswansociety.org.