D124 First-Graders Get Stories And A Book From EPCHS 'Book Buddies'

EVERGREEN PARK, IL – Seniors who attend Evergreen Park Community High School kept a holiday tradition alive and brought holiday-themed stories to read to first-graders throughout Evergreen Park. Four students visited the kids at Southeast, Northeast, Southwest and Northwest elementary schools in Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 during a two-week span in December.

Senior EPCHS students Fionn Doherty, Chloe Thompson, Emma Neylon and Samantha Senese, all of whom are part of the school’s education internship, carried on the tradition of “Book Buddies” in Evergreen Park. They each brought a holiday-themed story to read with the group of first-graders as well as a special gift for each of the students.

After reading their story aloud to the younger children, the seniors handed out individually wrapped gifts to each of the students. Inside was a children’s book each kid was given a chance to read and take home with them.

The Book Buddies program was created in 2018 by EPCHS media specialist, Dr. Tina Ward, and library assistant, Karen Hewitt, who both run the EPCHS Learning Resource Center.

“The Book Buddies program is my favorite initiative that the LRC started years ago,” Ward said. “I love that our students and staff donate books to be gifted to the first-graders of Evergreen Park for the holidays. I love that we come together as a community to make sure that our Future Mustangs know how much we value literacy.”

“It also warms my heart to hear the stories our senior readers bring back about how excited the first-graders are to receive their gifts,” she added.