Ahoy, book lovers! At Aberdeen Academy, GRPS scholars are diving headfirst into a sea of knowledge! Thanks to a generous $2,000 donation from Sally Schoen and Kim Hanrahan via the Teresa Weatherall Neal Principal’s Fund, the Birthday Books program has smooth sailing, and the beloved Aberdeen Book Machine is still making waves.
Every Monday morning, the crew of K-8 scholars gathers in the school’s grand harbor for the Monday Morning Meeting. It is a special time to drop anchor, share the latest news from the fleet, celebrate victories, and recite the pledge of allegiance. But the real splash happens when we celebrate our birthday sailors!
During the assembly, the week’s birthday students are called to the deck, greeted by a wave of applause from their classmates. Their treasure? A chance to visit the Aberdeen Book Machine and choose a special book as their birthday prize. This tradition is more than just a celebration; it is a message in a bottle to our young scholars: every birthday is an opportunity to unlock the treasures of reading.
“You may be aware that book vending machines are a trend at schools. Instead of spending $4,000 on a grant for a machine that will need to be maintained, we would rather spend money on books,” said Principal Victoria Simon. “We created our own two-sided “machine” for about $100 and decorate it annually with our school theme. This year our theme is an ocean theme – Aberdeen Academy scholars are diving into the sea of knowledge!”
No sailor gets left behind on this voyage. As the school year nears its horizon, the crew makes sure to celebrate summer birthdays too. “We dedicate one week each to June, July, and August birthdays,” shares Simon. With 249 students aboard, each book costing about $5, they ensure that every scholar receives their share of the treasure while keeping our mission affordable and impactful.
The Aberdeen Academy crew sends a heartfelt thank-you to Sally Schoen and Kim Hanrahan for their incredible generosity. Their support helps us keep the Birthday Books tradition afloat, encouraging every student to hoist their reading sails high.
So, here is to another year of setting sail into the sea of stories and celebrating the joy of reading at Aberdeen Academy. Anchors aweigh, scholars—adventure awaits!
*Pictured above: Aberdeen Academy accepting $2,000 for Birthday Books and Book Machine. From left to right: Principal Victoria Simon, Ashley Keener-GRPS Literacy Paraprofessional, Sally Schoen, and Kim Hanrahan.
