The goal was to have the students check out 2,000 books for the month, then the principal would do something.
The first week saw the students bring in projects made of recycled materials. There were rocket ships, dioramas, paintings, robots, birdhouses, a working electrical lamp, dollhouses, cardboard box creations, team projects that told a story with a surprise ending and many more.
The second week was Spirit Week with a different way to dress up each day. Students and teachers dressed up as their favorite book characters on Wednesday.
Bill Ekstrom, the CSU Extension agent, presented a 4-H team-building and science activity for the third through fifth grades while preschool through second grade experienced science experiments and fun science tricks presented by Kay Bivens.
The third week the students enjoyed videos about science in their area of science learning.
The last week of January, Bill Ekstrom and Leah Bolander presented STEM programs. First grade had states of matter, second grade had earth systems, third grade had energy and states of matter, fourth grade had basic needs of animals and fifth grade had water systems.
Feb. 2 was the final day and celebration.
Mike Clark, representing Natural Soda, gave a very informative presentation on the workings of Natural Soda, located on the upper Piceance Creek. Natural Soda is one of the largest corporations in the world for the recovery of soda. It is amazing to find out all the uses of soda. Soda from Natural Soda is sent all over the United States and many countries in the world. To learn more, go to www.NaturalSoda.com.
Brandon Sanders, a representative of the Upper White River Plant Center, also gave a very informative presentation about the plant center and the plants and seeds that are grown there. Many of the plants and seeds are used across the United States for reclamation and plant studies. Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center is a non-profit and community organization. It is a 501c3 non-profit organization owned and operated by the combined Douglas and White River conservation districts.
To finalize the book celebration, there was an assembly for all elementary school students. Everyone was greeted by the music from Shana Holliday’s EMS marimba band.
White River Electric representatives, linemen Brett Berthelson and Nathan Pelloni, presented bookmarks and three Big Joe beanbag chairs for the students to use in the library.
The goal of checking out 2,000 books was surpassed by 514 books for a grand total of 2514 books.
To the delight and screams of the students, Principal Kathy Collins kissed a baby goat and a wether goat. Samantha Wilson, a third-grade teacher, was surprised to be called to kiss the goat also.
MES library paraprofessional Kay Bivens thanked all teachers, students and presenters and especially Collins. It was a great month for celebrating reading and STEM, she said.
