Elementary school plans Book Fair Fiesta

Posted
By Lisa Scott

Special to The PREVIEW

Pagosa Springs Elementary School will host the Scholastic Book Fair May 5-15 during school hours in the school library. Families, teachers and the community are invited to attend the fair, which will feature a special theme: “Book Fair FIESTA! — I Want Books! Let’s Go Read!”

Many activities at the school accompany the Book Fair and the Fiesta theme, and this is an exciting time for students at the school and a fun, gratifying way to increase interest in reading for pleasure.

Family Night will be held Thursday, May 8, from 5-7 p.m. The Partners In Education Committee (P.I.E.) have organized the evening. Several activities will be available for family participation and a delicious and nutritious homemade dinner will be served in the cafeteria. All families are invited to the school for an evening full of Fiesta fun, to shop the Book Fair and to enjoy a meal together.

Students visit the Book Fair with their class once each week that the Book Fair is open. The first week they preview the books for sale, especially the new releases. There are a wide variety of books and price ranges available and there is always a huge supply of bargain items as low as $1.99. The second week, students view the “Author DVD,” supplied by Scholastic, which features authors discussing the books they wrote with kids in mind.

The elementary school has been hosting a book fair since 1982. The 2013 fall Book Fair netted the school $2,614 in cash and over $1,296 in books for the school library. Proceeds from book fairs are used for reading and educational improvements and to help fund the purchase of necessary, unbudgeted supplies for the school.

The goal established last year is to build funds to purchase a portable stage, which costs about $8,500. The current stage is a handmade plywood box that weighs a lot and is difficult to move and store. The school uses the stage over 25 times during the school year and a portable stage with a higher rise and several modern features would be greatly appreciated.

Individuals attending the event can also help build individual classroom libraries by purchasing books for teachers through the Classroom Wish List Program that is highlighted within the Book Fair.

The Book Fair will offer specially priced books and educational products, including newly released titles, award-winning titles, children’s classics, beautiful hardback books, interactive software and book titles from more than 150 publishers. There are products for all age ranges and many excellent gift ideas.

The community is invited to attend the Book Fair as a shopper or volunteer during book fair hours, as the event is hosted in the school library and staffed by volunteers. For more questions or to volunteer, contact Lisa Scott at 264-2730 or sranch@centurytel.net.