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One Book, One Community Event St. Francis Xavier School 2013-2014
WHAT IS ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY? We are pleased to announce our SFX One Book, One Community reading event for the 2013-2014 academic year. We enthusiastically welcome Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan, in partnership with The Lincoln Park Zoo. We have also invited our sharing school, St. Thomas of Canterbury; the Wilmette Public Library; and peer- schools, Immaculate Conception of Chicago, Wayne Thomas School, and Indian Trail school (both of Highland Park) to join us as we read and dialogue about the themes and insights explored in this inspiring New York Times best seller and 2013 Newbery Award winner.
The event kicks off on December 15th at the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the nation’s leading primate centers. SFX families are encouraged to attend and enjoy the Zoo Lights presentation immediately following. On December 16th, Ms. Applegate joins us on campus for a more intimate discussion. We will also launch a fundraiser in which each classroom will work to collect enough money to adopt a gorilla at the Lincoln Park Zoo. In the spring months, our 1st and 8th grade classes will visit the zoo to perform field observations and participate in unique educational programming in conjunction with the primate center.
We invite all 3rd through 8th grade students, SFX faculty, staff and parents to read The One and Only Ivan together. 3rd through 8th grade SFX students will discuss Ivan with students from our partner schools using tools like edmodo.com, a dedicated blog and Skype. Meanwhile, students in 2nd grade and under will explore age appropriate, thematically related books together during the school day.
WHY ONE BOOK? Reading in community creates excitement, enthusiasm and support for literacy. It assists in the development of a life-long love of reading, promotes discussion and fosters personal connections across social groups (e.g., parent and child). Ivan challenges us to be good stewards of the earth and its creatures. It celebrates friendship and empowers us to put the needs of others ahead of our own.
WHY IVAN? Ivan is a special book that carries a valuable message for children and adults alike. When families pledge to read Ivan, they demonstrate how we unite as a community behind the message of friendship and the greater Crusader Covenant virtue, benevolence. Ivan explores important issues that are sure to generate meaningful discussions around your dining room table. !
While we are targeting this book for grades 3 through 8, we understand that you know your child best. With this in mind, you may choose to read Ivan along with your elementary school aged child. We are also providing a list of picture books that touch upon friendship and animals. In this way, parents of younger students may still participate in our efforts to promote dialogue and personal connections through a community read.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Pledge to Read Sign and turn in your family pledge form indicating your choice to be part of the One Book One Community read (either in community with Ivan, or at home with an alternate, age appropriate title). You can find this and all other forms on the One Book page of the website. Pledge forms are due by December 6.
2. Turn in Your Ivan Book Order Form If you would like to purchase a personalized, signed copy of Ivan, please turn in your order form, along with a check made out to Saint Francis Xavier School, by December 6. Forms may be returned to the school office.
3. Participate in Our Fundraising Efforts If you wish to contribute toward the purchase of a copy of Ivan for a student at St. Thomas, please complete the fundraising form and return it to the school office, along with a check made out to St. Francis Xavier School. Additionally, each class will be working to raise enough money to adopt a gorilla from the Lincoln Park Zoo. T hose classrooms reaching their target amount will receive a plush gorilla and certificate as a souvenir of this worthy initiative. Donation Forms are due by December 6 and may be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher.
4. Attend the Kick-Off Event (optional, but encouraged!) Participate in one of two visits with award winning author, Katherine Applegate. Families are invited to join us at the Lincoln Park Zoo on December 15th and may stay to enjoy Zoo Lights immediately following. Miss Applegate will pay a second, intimate visit to our students at school the next day, December 16th. Please refer to the calendar at the end of this guide for a list of important dates, times and locations.
5. Read the book We will read Ivan in community according to the following schedule: Week One 12/16-22 Pages 1-39 Week Two 12/23-29 Pages 40-84 Week Three 12/30-1/5 Pages 85-129 Week Four 1/6-12 Pages 130-179 Week Five 1/13-19 Pages 180-220 Week Six 1/20-26 Pages 221-262 Week Seven 1/27-2/2 Pages 262-304 Wrap Up Event, February visits from Lincoln Park Zoo Educators TBD !
6. Discuss in Community Weekly discussion questions and instructions regarding how to participate will be posted on our dedicated One Book, One Community page on the school’s website.
7. Picture Book Resources We encourage parents of our youngest Crusaders to consider reading and discussing one or more of the following books with their children. Each of these titles includes a message of friendship and/or explores the beauty and wonder of primates, especially gorillas.
One Gorilla: A Counting Book by Anthony Browne Little Beauty by Anthony Browne Me...Jane, by Patrick McDonnell Koko’s Kitten by Dr. Francine Patterson and Ronald Cohn Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff Looking For Miza:the true story of the mountain gorilla family, by Juliana Hatkoff
8. Ivan Calendar
Sunday, December 15th 5-6:00pm Ms. Applegate addresses One Book Community and friends of the zoo at the Lincoln Park Zoo 6-6:15 pm Brief event at the ape house 6:30pm Book signing 7-7:30pm Families depart for Zoo Lights
Monday, December 16th 10-11am Ms. Applegate addresses students at SFX Fundraising challenge extended 6:30pm Ms. Applegate visits the Wilmette Public Library
Tuesday, December 17th 10am Ms. Applegate visits Saint Thomas of Canterbury School in Chicago 1pm Ms. Applegate visits Immaculate Conception/St. Joseph in Chicago 4:30pm Ms. Applegate visits The Book Stall in Winnetka
Wednesday, December 18th Ms. Applegate visits Wayne Thomas and Indian Trails schools in Highland Park
December 16-February 2nd Read in community at school and at home Spring, dates TBD Educational visits/field trips for 1st and 8th graders at the Lincoln Park Zoo