District 47 students get free books from local nonprofit
Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 students recently received a donation of roughly 2,000 books through a new partnership with the nonprofit Bernie's Book Bank.
This year, the McHenry County Community Foundation provided a grant to help fund the program. Students from District 47's Title I elementary schools - Canterbury, Coventry and North - and the Wehde Early Childhood Center received free books through the program.
Future book deliveries are planned for this fall and next spring. Starting with the 2018-19 school year, each District 47 Title I school and Wehde Early Childhood Center will receive two book distributions per school year.
"We are excited about our partnership with Bernie's Book Bank, as it brings an opportunity for students to receive 12 free books annually," said Erin Anderson, District 47 director of literacy.
"We hope receipt of the new books will ignite excitement among our students and inspire reading over the summer."
South Elgin academy students earn awards:
South Elgin High School's Beacon Academy of Media and Digital Arts students earlier this spring took first place in two categories at the Student Television Network Conference in Nashville.
Payton Snell, a junior, and Derryl Barnes, a sophomore, earned first place in the "Anchor" competition after receiving a packet of local and current news stories, writing the stories and reading them on camera within two hours.
Juniors Collin Pierce, Dylan Morales, Jacklyn Elliot and Jane Richards also won first place in the "Public Service Announcement" category. In their event, they had about six hours to plan, write, film and edit a public service announcement based on a provided prompt, "Music Education."
Beacon students participated in nine of 20 contests in Nashville, where they were required to work without any assistance from teachers or peers.
Free summer lunches for Crystal Lake youth:
Crystal Lake youth again will be able to get free lunches this summer for the third year in a row.
Sponsored by the Northern Illinois Food Bank with the support of volunteers and the Crystal Lake Park District, the summer food program provides free boxed lunches and milk to any child 18 years and younger.
The lunch program is offered weekdays through Aug. 17. Lunches will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ladd Park, 556 Devonshire Lane, Crystal Lake.
In case of rain, lunches will be served at Vineyard Church, 7105 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake (next to the CVS Pharmacy).
Activities will be provided and no registration is required.