PVEF Grant Funds Community Reading Project

According to Jody Bradley, assistant principal at Paradise Elementary, Erik Orndorff, Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) superintendent, kicked off the school year with a specific theme. "Dr. Orndorff focused on remembering your purpose," reported Bradley, who noted that the One Book - One School choice of "The Wizard of Oz," which includes characters exploring their own purposes, was chosen to coordinate with that theme.

A Pequea Valley Education Foundation (PVEF) grant paid for copies of the book for families of both Paradise Elementary and Salisbury Elementary students. PVEF runs two yearly grant cycles with a goal of distributing all the funds the organization takes in. Karla Beiler, director of Pequea Valley Elementary Advocacy at The Factory Ministries, reported that the grant, for more than $1,900, will cover the cost of 600 books.

Bradley explained that reading will start in January. "We will kick off in the new year (with the book), and we will be done (reading it) by the time Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) performs the 'Wizard of Oz' in March, which is a perfect tie-in," she explained. "The reason we chose 'Wizard of Oz' was not just because it aligned with the musical," Bradley added, noting that the goal was to involve the community. "The purpose is to read together," said Bradley. "Families are taking that time to do that."

Because some parents work in the evenings, organizers are partnering with sixth-grade student members of the school Braves Club, who serve as mentors, to read to younger children when necessary. They also plan to look for willing readers from 55-and-older communities in the area. "We are trying to link up with them to see if some volunteers will record themselves reading (the book)," explained Bradley. "So, if a student doesn't have access to an adult at home, they could go to our website and have someone from the community read to them."

Another plan is to involve the business community and other local organizations. "We are still working on having the community do a Yellow Brick Road scavenger hunt," said Bradley, who noted that students and their families would visit local tourist spots and service organizations, such as the fire companies and the library, to learn about the purposes of those places.

Because organizers are hoping to complete the book in time for PVHS' production of "The Wizard of Oz," they are hoping to work with student actors and director Nathan Bankert to bring musical numbers to the elementary schools. "We would love if the characters could do a mini presentation in our gym for everyone," said Bradley.

PVEF will be taking part in the ExtraGive 2022 online fundraising event to be held on Friday, Nov. 18, and the organization will have a display at the Block Party to be held at The Factory from 4:30 to 7 p.m. that day. Readers who wish to support the organization during the ExtraGive may visit http://www.extragive.org.

More information about PVEF may be found at http://www.pequeavalley.org/domain/347.