Building a sense of community is incredibly important—and that’s a belief shared by Principal Brian Parkman and the entire staff at Conehatta Elementary School. When the school began exploring ways to strengthen the bond among students and to create a sense of community, one creative idea rose to the top: an all-school book read. The chosen story? Charlotte’s Web.
Staff members transformed the school into a vibrant learning environment inspired by the book, filling classrooms and hallways with characters and scenes from the story. They also planned a variety of fun, engaging activities connected to the book’s themes.
Then, Mr. Parkman added an extra spark of motivation. He announced that if students collectively read 1,000 books during the month of October, he would kiss a pig! The challenge lit a fire in the students, and they eagerly read their way to the goal.
The students exceeded their goal and read over 1500 books! To celebrate, the school planned a special day students won’t soon forget. Not only did they see their principal follow through on his promise to kiss a pig, but they also enjoyed a petting zoo and a trip to the Roxy Theater to watch Charlotte’s Web come to life on the big screen.
It was a memorable day and a powerful example of how creativity, community, and a good story can bring a school together.
