First -graders at Kilmer spearhead book collection
Kilmer Elementary School first graders took action this past fall to provide students in a Chicago school with books for their library. The students lead a school-wide drive and collected more than 1,100 books.
First grade teacher Colleen Conley and her Buffalo Grove High School student intern Makayla Garcia posed the problem to the students and asked them to identify a solution. The first graders quickly set to work to coordinate the book drive.
"I'm so proud of our students for identifying an important way to give back to others," said Kilmer Principal Diana O'Donnell. "This year, our school theme is 'Be the Change' and our first graders are leading by example in making a difference in our communities."
The first graders created posters and flyers to solicit book donations from local area schools and kept a running tally as books arrived. Books were new and used and represented various languages. In addition to the books collected at Kilmer, donations were also received from Buffalo Grove High School and Poe Elementary School and Cooper Middle School in District 21.
Garcia, a Buffalo Grove High School senior and former Kilmer and Cooper student, delivered the books with BGHS classmates this past December.