Valuing literacy
Students sell artwork to raise funds to buy books
Superior Hills students Loviisa Aho, left, and Emma Avendt, right, proudly hold up their artwork. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)
Daniel, left, Hazel, middle, and mother Kelly Tibbetts, right ,enjoy the Book Walk in nature as they read from Marquette Alger Young Authors’ featured guest, Jerry Pallotta. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)
Superior Hills students Loviisa Aho, left, and Emma Avendt, right, proudly hold up their artwork. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)
Daniel, left, Hazel, middle, and mother Kelly Tibbetts, right ,enjoy the Book Walk in nature as they read from Marquette Alger Young Authors’ featured guest, Jerry Pallotta. (Journal photo by Alexandria Bournonville)
Trending
MARQUETTE -- A fundraiser to help promote literacy was held Tuesday afternoon at Superior Hills Elementary School to the delight of students, staff and parents.
With plenty of activities to keep everyone busy, it was a day of fun for all who attended.
Grade school students' artwork was put on display in every inch of the school in the style of an art gallery. Parents walked around with their little artist, finding and collecting their works in order to "buy" them.
There was no cost for taking home the artwork, just a suggested donation, should the parent feel so inclined.
"This is our second year of bringing this art auction back after a number of years of not doing it. Some of it's COVID related. When we brought it back last year, we wanted to focus on literacy so we could get books in kids hands," Superior Hills Principal Stephanie Anderson said about the target of the night's proceeds. "We did 'one school, one book' where every student and family got the same book...This year we supplied one of the Young Authors' books for each student."
The Marquette Alger Young Authors Conference is an annual event held for a week for several elementary schools in Marquette County that teaches students how to write stories, research, illustrate and publish their book.
This past conference in early May featured Jerry Pallotta, author of the "Who Would Win?" series.
Another attraction to the art auction night was the Book Walk activity. A meandering trail weaved through the forested part of the property directly next to the school's doors. On it, signs were posted with excerpts from Pallotta's books.
Each sign listed facts about two wild animals and asked the reader to theorize who would win in a fight. These included a grizzly bear versus a polar bear, a lion versus a tiger, a killer whale versus a great white shark, and more. Those who put in all the correct guesses for all ten questions would get a chance to receive a gift card.
The gift cards were bought and supplied by the Superior Hills staff to be given to those who answered all 10 Book Walk questions correctly.
"We have a staff that really values literacy for themselves...students and families so we're a very literacy focused building and I think we really work hard to do whatever we can to get families to come in....Our goal is to be really connected," Anderson said.
After a stroll in the gallery or a warm walk outside, guests were encouraged to stop at the ice cream social stand to cool off and have a sweet treat.
In another section of the school, baskets of prizes lined a hallway in the form of a silent auction. On an attached piece of paper, parents markedk down their best offer for the basket of their choice in the hopes of winning it at the end of the night.
Every item in the prize baskets was handpicked by students from Superior Hills, with the exclusion of one whole basket coming from the parents' organization, SHAPE, or the Superior Hills Association of Parents and Educators.
Among the many activities to do, art teacher Erin Porter opened up her classroom for guests to experience a special space-themed section of the gallery. All the art in the room was made using glow in the dark materials creating a fun effect for both kids and parents.
"They're always so excited. They're always so proud to actually bring their families in and show them, is probably what's most meaningful to them," Porter said of the kids excitedly dragging their parents to her classroom.
In the library, the school's book vending machine was on display. In order to win a book, kids need to earn a special token by receiving good grades or participating in good behaviors.
"The vending machine is an addition, it just came. We're going to take all this money and just call it for literacy for Superior Hill students...we'll be refilling the book vending machine...purchasing books for students...just making sure kids have access to free books," Anderson said.
One parent, Jessica Wilson, commented on the ever-busy parent organization.
"I'm always amazed at the new things they have in SHAPE," Wilson said. "I've been so blessed to see how many different activities and events they have, and of course the vending machine is very new. It's very inspiring and it makes me hopeful for the future of our community."
Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 506. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.