Members of the Unity Project’s School Partnership Committee delivered 800 books recently to the School District of Fort Atkinson, according to information released by the school district.
Made in April, the gift included books ranging from kindergarten to eighth-grade reading levels, covering a wide range of topics relating to the Unity Project’s mission and social-emotional learning, the release continued.
Unity Project School Partnership Committee Chairpersons Whitney Townsend and Jocelyn Vechinsky, in coordination with Scholastic Books, reviewed and hand-selected titles that reflected the project’s mission. These books demonstrate a variety of topics ranging from diversity, inclusion, immigration stories, positive self-image, self care, and more, the release noted.
The Unity Project is comprised of a group of community members working together to make sure every person in the community feels a sense of belonging in Fort Atkinson. In keeping with that mission, the release stated, “it was imperative that the Unity Project select books that represent and reflect the students that will read them.”
The released further noted that Scholastic Books offered a curated collection within the categories of Unity Project focus, providing a timely and cost-effective way to enrich classrooms and libraries with engaging, culturally-based and diverse books.
According to the release, Fort Community Credit Union (FCCU), in August of 2020, submitted a grant application with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The targeted impact fund was intended for initiatives that addressed racial equity disparities. The partnering applicants, FCCU and the Unity Project, received an award of $15,000.
The money was meant to be used to promote a more fair and inclusive society for Black and Latino communities, according to Townsend.
To emphasis the Unity Project’s mission, each book includes a donation sticker with the phrase: “May you see yourself in these pages, and know that you are welcome, safe, and valued,” according to the release.
“This is such a generous donation. Our students and staff will benefit greatly from this act of kindness. With this new inventory of themed books, we will be able to further develop and support students from a lens of equity, inclusion, and restorative justice,” Director of Pupil Services and Special Education Lisa Hollenberger was quoted as saying in the release.
“It is vital that students see themselves in the books they read and for students to read about people unlike themselves. With public displays of hate on the rise, it is important that schools commit to programs that define and display expectations for behavior for all members of the community,” Townsend said.
Amy Oakley, school district director of instruction, agreed, saying in the release: “This donation comes at an incredible time. Diversity, inclusion, social-emotional learning and positive self-image has always been important for the School District of Fort Atkinson.”
The book donation comes on the heels of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction releasing new standards for English language arts in 2020, with equity and identity at the heart of the standards, the release noted.
“Our literacy leadership team was currently putting together a proposal for sample books to review in order to purchase books for classrooms this fall. Glancing through these boxes, quite a few titles were on their list, which we will no longer have to request, pay or wait for,” Candice Sayre, district literacy coordinator and literacy coach, noted.
“Our plan is to vet these books over the next several months and determine which titles we will move to full classroom sets or as additions to classroom libraries. Our staff will be able to work collectively to ensure that our SDFA students feel heard, comfortable, and represented in the day-to-day curriculum and overall learning environment.” Oakley said.
School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott added: “I am not sure our district could ask for much more than a donation of books that will have a direct and profound impact on each and every elementary and middle school student. Each of these books is focused on topics and themes related to some of the most pressing social challenges of our time. We celebrate our partnership with the Unity Project’s School Partnership Committee.”
Of the group, Abbot said, its “purposeful vision is an investment in our most precious resource, our students.”
Among books selected are titles that emphasis the Unity Project’s mission, focusing on racial equity in schools and making every child feel welcomed, safe, and valued. Submitted photos.
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