The Quest for ‘One Book, One School’ Reaches Arcola

Arcola Intermediate School students were treated to a unique film during a school-wide assembly this afternoon.

The film was designed to excite the students about the school’s newest initiative, “One Book, One School.”

The film, which was scripted, directed, filmed and edited by Arcola Reading Specialist, Craig Corrao, parodied the iconic comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

But, instead of seeking the legendary cup, this King Arthur and a faithful squire were searching for the land of Arcola.

And, yes, the squire was using hollowed-out coconuts to provide “horse-trotting” sound effects as the duo pranced throughout the Arcola school grounds looking for the school building.

“Where did you get those coconuts? This is a temperate climate,” bellowed a knight (à la the snooty French knights of the Monty Python movie) from on top of the school building.

“Did you get those from the book fair?” the knight continued.

“No, Wegmans,” replied King Arthur, who was eventually allowed entrance to the building.

The students’ laughter soon gave way to uproarious applause as the parody King Arthur suddenly entered the auditorium, with his coconut-wielding companion in tow.

King Arthur and the companion, better known to the students as Arcola seventh-grade teachers Mr. Rob McCready and Mrs. Mary Williamson, respectively, then proclaimed Arcola Intermediate School united in its inaugural “One Book, One School” initiative.

‘Freak the Mighty’

King Arthur explained that the students, faculty and staff of Arcola Intermediate School would together be reading, “Freak the Mighty,” written by Rodman Philbrick.

According to Philbrick’s website, “Freak the Mighty,” is a realistic fiction story about adolescent friends, each with a disability, and how they overcome adversities due to their friendship.

The approximately 800 Arcola students and over 100 staff and faculty will read this book and discuss lessons from the story.

According to McCready, the entire school will engage in the in-school reading and discussion initiative every six days throughout the school year.

“I think it’s fantastic,” McCready, said after the assembly. “Everyone is on the same page.”

McCready, who has taught social studies at Arcola for 11 years, said that he enjoyed the excited response the students gave after watching the film, and he is looking forward to teaching and discussing “Freak the Mighty” with his students.

According to Arcola’s principal, Lu Page, a committee of Arcola teachers worked during the summer to develop the "One Book, One School" initiative. She said that discussions from the book will revolve around themes of anti-bullying, friendship, self-awareness and overcoming adversity.

Page was also pleased with the excitement generated by the students during the assembly.

She explained that the “One Book, One School” initiative is not reading instruction, but rather an opportunity for the whole school to engage in character instruction. Page said that it’s important for seventh and eighth grade students to understand the differences they see or know about with their fellow classmates.

“How do we get 13 and 14-year-olds to accept each other?” Page said. “And, get excited about it?”

Page said that every student, faculty and staff will get a copy of the book, and will be encouraged to engage students in the regular discussions. She also said that the book itself, with its story and characters, will serve as a platform in addressing the themes of the book as they come up in everyday student life.

“The beauty is even if you don’t know the student, you can talk about it in chapter 5, chapter 6, and start a conversation with the student - with all the students,” Page said. “The other beauty is that it provides the opportunity for students to address the difficult conversations through the characters of the book.”

Back in McCready’s seventh-grade Social studies classroom, his students said they enjoyed the Monty Python parody film and further expressed excitement over the One-Book, One School initiative.

“It’s a good idea,” Arcola seventh-grade student Anuraag Andkurni said with all his classmates nodding in agreement.