Freeman students pour energy into book fair

For the past three years, Freeman students have literally taken over their book fairs.

Yes, students grab books off the shelves in abundance, but they do so much more. Crews in grades 8 through 12 in Freeman also run the book fair.

Their success has gained the attention of other school districts seeking to involve youths more directly.

In fact, the students led a how-to workshop during September in Spokane Valley for librarians and book fair volunteers. They gave a report this week to Freeman’s school board.

Schools area wide often hold book fairs twice a year, in fall and spring, typically fueled by parent volunteers. As a change, Freeman librarian Cis Hyndman decided to recruit eighth-graders to take over.

The students must apply, do interviews and be “hired” to work the fair.

This year, high school students also became involved and went through the same process. The Freeman Book Fair on Oct. 19 through 23 raised $4,000 in books for both the K-8 school and the high school.

“I got to thinking this whole thing benefits the kids, so I thought we should include them more,” said Hyndman, Freeman’s K-8 librarian for 19 years before becoming the districtwide librarian last year.

“The only reason we have these fairs is to supply our libraries with more literature. The kids should have ownership,” Hyndman said. “They knew it was just like a job, and they had to interview.

“It’s real work to get it started, but once you do, the kids really get it rolling.”

The students must receive parent and teacher approval and keep grades up.

Some of the student positions include assistant managers to Hyndman. The assistants arrange a master schedule of all the kids working the event.

Each student gets permission from a teacher to miss one class a day during school days, and they also volunteer time before or after school and during breaks in the day.

This year, Hyndman recruited 13 middle school students and 19 students from the high school.

Other student roles are in advertising with posters and announcements, book inventory, and promotional assistance for contests, prizes and a book fair family night.

The crews also plan out a theme. Freeman students, selecting a spy theme for October, plan to enter their work into a Scholastic Books contest to bring author Anthony Horowitz to the school and gain $2,000 in books.

Hyndman said she still has a few parent volunteers who really want to help with the fair. However, the students do most of the work.

“The students thoroughly do it all. I try to reward the students,” Hyndman said. “They all get community service hours, and then they each can get one free book at the end of the fair.”

Students have a friendly competition among themselves. Hyndman each year gives rubber bracelets from Scholastic to student crews.

“My sophomore kids (who started three years ago) still have the bracelets, and the deal is among them that the one who has the most wins,” the librarian said.

However, the most exciting benefit for Hyndman is watching the students during the book fair’s few down times. She catches them perusing the books and talking about authors and literature.

“The kids will do a title search, and after they find it on the shelf, they start talking about the book. They really know the books and the authors. Our reading scores are fantastic,” Hyndman said.

“That’s just another step to get them more excited about books and literature.”

U-Hi holding craft fair

Find holiday gifts at this weekend’s University High School Craft and Antique Fair, which benefits the marching band and color guard.

The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the school, 12420 E. 32nd Ave.

Admission is $1 for adults.

EV teams honored for grades

Several East Valley High School athletic teams recently received Washington Interscholastic Activities Association academic awards.

Distinguished WIAA Scholastic Awards went to: girls’ varsity soccer 3.20 grade-point average (18 girls); boys varsity cross country 3.25 g.p.a (18 boys); girls varsity volleyball 3.42 g.p.a. (9 girls).

Also, girls varsity cross country with 3.57 g.p.a. (18 girls) received an Outstanding Award.

WV outdoor center cited

A state award recognizing positive impact on student learning was given last week to the West Valley School District’s Outdoor Learning Center.

The State Team Award came from the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

The Outdoor Learning Center, located next to Pasadena Elementary School, provides a wildlife setting for learning without students having to leave the city.

Two mainstays of the center are a trout breeding pond and a hawk and owl sanctuary.