Christina Garley’s fifth-grade classroom at Maple Avenue Elementary donated $50 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of its Buck a Book program. The reading incentive program encourages students to read on their own time and raise money for a cause they deem important.
For each book students complete and record in their reading log, they bring in $1 or whatever they can from home. Once $50 is collected, the class decides where to donate the money. The class chose the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the nation’s largest wish-granting organization, because it has given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Foundation grants a child’s wish in the U.S. every 40 minutes.
The Buck a Book program, which runs throughout the school year, encourages Maple Avenue fifth-graders to read while helping others. The donation is the class’ second donation this year. The class donated $50 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in January. Since the start of the “Buck a Book” Program in 2006-07, fifth-graders in Garley’s classes have donated $500 to various organizations. Parent feedback regarding the program indicates that it has been successful in motivating students to read.
Maple Avenue Elementary School is located at W240 N6059 Maple Ave. in Sussex.