Magical moments were plentiful during the Lower School Reading Celebration last Fri., Sept. 13—from sixth graders skillfully leading cross-grade reading discussions and games, to all students creating a beautiful collaborative art project inspired by the summer reading book (Katherine Applegate's Wishtree), to everyone finding a quiet nook for a half hour to dig into a great book of their choosing.
More than a decade old, the event ostensibly celebrates reading, as its name suggests. The group discussions and projects and individual reading time all explore and underscore the importance of, lessons to be gleaned from, and fun to be found in reading.
But the day goes far beyond books. As Lower School Director Christy Diefenderfer shares, "Spending the day with cross-grade groups also allows new opportunities for increasing leadership, sharing ideas, and building relationships."
In their debriefings with teachers, students noted the many things that they loved about the day, and a major theme was how much they enjoyed the event's community-building aspects.
"I just really liked being in a group with people who aren't in my class and grade," said fourth grader Leah Claire.
"You got to meet so many new people," said classmate Cate.
Reading Celebration is one of Lower School Librarian Evelyn Schwartz's favorite days of the school year. She especially loves the "Drop Everything and Read" Time, when girls scatter across the School with their own book choices. "It's a shared oasis of time that doesn't often happen in a busy schedule. I love that Holton intentionally sets that time apart for us to be together in that way," she says.