We are a K-8 charter school with a 57% minority population, 48% low-income and a 20% disability rate. While these demographics can create academic obstacles for our students, we are a close-knit school community that is dedicated to the success and safety of all of our students. Students, parents and teachers will often describe us not just as a school, but as a family. Visitors and substitute teachers frequently comment on the warm, welcoming environment we have created. We have a multi-age looping scenario for classrooms, which allows students to alternate between having "older" students as mentors, and being the mentors themselves. This helps all of the students feel invested in each others success and creates a culture of kindness and empathy.
Our students are life-long learners!
My Project
Selecting the best books for our students can seem overwhelming at times, with so many choices across all genres. Book awards are an easy way for librarians and teachers to select quality literature. For this reason, SBCS library has always been dedicated to featuring award-winning books in our collection. In a K-8 school, it is important that literature is available for all age groups, and Illinois Monarch, Bluestem, and Rebecca Caudill Awards feature enriching books in each age category.
Many of the books that win these awards become life-long favorites of students and teachers, and are featured in the curriculum year after year.
Our 2 book fair fundraisers this year raised enough money to purchase most of the books in each of these award categories. However, our funding did fall short, and the titles that are in our wish list are books that were not able to be purchased. Please help us complete our Illinois State Awards collection for 2017! Our students will benefit by having access to books that are sure to engage them in reading, and our teachers will have access to books they know will support their curriculum and reading goals for their students!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Saia and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.