Big Read Project at Schutz American School

Early this school year, the teachers of the Upper School at Schutz American School discussed various ways to promote reading throughout the school. One of the projects mentioned was to have everyone in the school community read the same book over the same period of time. This project would also include discussion groups and perhaps some activities.

We decided that the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson would be a good first read. The book is available in three versions. There is the original version, a version for younger readers, and a hardcover picture book. Therefore we thought we would be able to extend this project down to the Lower School.

At a meeting in late October, we decided to expand The Big Read Project to incorporate a school wide reading program with a school wide community service project for interested classes or groups. We checked with three local schools in the neighborhood to explore the possibility of Schutz helping one of them develop a library. We decided that Al Ma’arif Elementary School would be a manageable project for us to undertake. Al Ma’arif is a local elementary school within walking distance from Schutz. The school had a small library in place, but it needed some improvement. After consulting with the librarian and the school director, a basic plan was developed.

A committee of interested students was formed to support the project. Shelves and tables from the school were repaired and new shelves built by the carpenters at Schutz. New chairs were purchased. We then held a “painting party” after school to paint all the furniture in bright colors of yellow, red, blue and green. Some students even managed to get more paint on the furniture than on themselves!

While the painted furniture was drying over the weekend, students cleaned and painted the walls and ceiling of the library. Once the students had cleaned the floor, workers from Schutz installed a carpet. The next day Schutz students carried the tables that would not fit in the van with the other furniture down the street to Al Ma’arif School. They then arranged all the newly painted furniture. The bright colors looked great! After putting pockets and cards in nearly 300 books, the students delivered the books to the library and arranged them on the shelves. Three used computers were also donated. Our Tech department refurbished them, set them up with basic software, and helped our students deliver and install them at the school.

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