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Robinwood Lane hosts book fair night for all
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Families gathered in the cafeteria at Robinwood Lane Elementary School for snacks and crafts on Family Bookfair Night.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Bookshelves, parents and children lined the hall at Family Bookfair Night at Robinwood Lane Elementary School.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Students and their families lined up to get balloon animals made on March 10 for Family Bookfair Night.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Shown is one of the three "aquariums" students made to raise money for third grader Vinnie Massacci.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.From left, Katie Rudolph, Ruth Gitmu, Hannah Gitmu and Priscilla Gitmu shopped for books during Family Bookfair Night on March 10.
By amanda tonoli
Robinwood Lane Elementary School in Boardman hosted a fun-filled Family Bookfair Night on March 10. Librarian Debbie Slavens encouraged students and parents to participate in the event by providing the initiative of a classroom treat rewarded to the class that brought the most students that night.
Slavens offers two-themed Family Bookfair Night’s per year – this one’s theme was “under the sea.” Fish and underwater artwork, some decorated by the students, lined the hallways and classrooms. Provided at the event were gold fish crackers and chips for a snack, crafts and photo opportunities.
Another opportunity at Family Bookfair Night was a fundraiser for student Vinnie Massacci who was diagnosed with Rhabdomyoscaroma, a rare form of childhood cancer, in September. Throughout the few weeks preceding the book fair students were allowed to color a paper fish and write a special note to put in a giant “aquarium” for Vinnie. When students gave their fish to put in the aquarium they gave a small donation with each fish. Normally, fundraising activities were rewarded with a pizza party, but this year Slavens told her students it was just going to be about Vinnie, and this sparked an even bigger effort from the students.
“I explained to them that there would be no pizza party this year for raising money, and once they understood it was just to help their classmate they were perfectly okay with that,” Slavens said.
Slavens was astonished when students began bringing in bigger and bigger donations for just one fish. Now, three “aquariums” are nearly filled from all the help and charity of the students – and more than $900 was raised as well.
Beyond the aid from the students decorating and helping the charity, parents and staff were an essential part to putting on such a successful book fair event. Slavens said without them there wouldn’t have been such a huge turnout.