Jefferson Elementary is excited to introduce its “One School, One Book” initiative, a schoolwide literacy program designed to bring students and families together through a shared reading experience.
This initiative was made possible by the Harvard Community Education Foundation, whose generous donation provided every fourth and fifth grade student with a personal copy of the selected book. To ensure accessibility for all families, books were distributed in both English and Spanish.
This year, fourth and fifth graders are reading Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes. Students will follow a coordinated reading schedule at home, reading the same chapters each night with their families. The initiative encourages meaningful conversations, strengthens literacy skills and builds a sense of community beyond the classroom.
The initiative was introduced to students with a video message from the author, who shared her inspiration for writing the novel and spoke about the importance of reading. Superintendent Dr. White helped mark the official start of the program by reading the first chapter aloud, launching the school’s shared reading journey.
Families can follow the reading calendar and access additional resources here: https://sites.google.com/cusd50.org/js-osob/home?scrlybrkr=c234d52a