CVSD Common Read: A Resounding Success

After many months of planning and a summer of reading, for some, the first CVSD Common Read culminated in the Celebration Day last Thursday. Over 1300 students, representing all of the district's 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th graders participated in a day of connecting, collaborating, expanding, and building empathy around the theme of social justice. The day was a great success!

As the students arrived they all went into the gym at CVU to sit by grade. That was the first opportunity for the 4th, 6th, and 8th grade students to mix with peers from other schools. Jeff Evans, CVSD's Director of Learning and Innovation, welcomed everyone and then Libby, a 6th grader from Hinesburg, introduced the keynote speaker. Here's an excerpt from her introduction:

When I first heard about the Common Read I was unsure why we were doing any of this. After reading A Good Kind of Trouble I realized that understanding social justice is important, and that we are all very lucky to have this experience. “Social justice means equal rights, opportunity, and treatment for all.” Reading Preaching to the Chickens, Ghost Boys, A Good Kind of Trouble, and March: Book One allowed us to understand some major social justice issues, both past and present. 

When I read A Good Kind Of Trouble I felt that I was in the story. The story was relatable, yet informative at the same time. Lisa Moore Ramée made you realize that Shayla, or better known as Shay, is a normal 12 year old girl, and she makes Shay feel like a girl you have known your whole life. A Good Kind of Trouble shows how a young girl comes to understand the Black Lives Matter movement and why the fight for social justice is so important. Through Shay’s journey I too was able to start understanding these important matters. Through Lisa Moore Ramée writing, I, and so many others, have been able to learn and grow in our understanding of Major issues facing our country.

Lisa Moore Ramée engaged the audience with stories about her own childhood and as a reader. She spoke about the process of writing books and engaging with her readers. And she spoke about how we care for and treat others, alike or different. This quote stood out for a number of students:

“When making new friends, find those with the same values, not necessarily those that look like you.”

After the keynote, students were divided into groups by grade level, but mixed by school, about 10 groups for each grade. There was quite a bit of coordination to get everyone into their group with the adults who would be their guide for the day, but it worked. At this point, about half of the group (650 students!) stayed in the gym to learn about the art project, and the other half went to workshops.

The 4th and 6th grade groups attended workshops facilitated by representatives from the Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte and two groups had the honor of working with the keynote, Lisa Moore Ramée. All of the sessions had a connection to the theme of social justice. As we visited each room, we witnessed singing, storytelling, writing, artistry, and more.

The 8th and 9th grade groups went to the auditorium where the following things took place:

• Student Leaders from CVU's Racial Alliance Committee presented on bias, prejudice, and stereotypes; and they worked to promote room for growth, opportunity, and social well-being in the CVSD community by bringing race to participants' awareness.
• CVU Librarian Christina Deeley led a session on examining social justice through photographs, focusing on Teaching Tolerance's four-level equity lens of identity, diversity, justice, and action.
• CVU Librarian Peter Langella led a text protocol based on an excerpt from Samira Ahmed's Internment, again focusing on identity, diversity, justice, and action.

While this was happening for half of the whole group, the balance were introduced to a massive collaborative art project, led by Shelburne Community School's art teacher, Pete Boardman. Students were paired up, 4th with 8th graders and 6th with 9th graders, and each student designed a feather. Five very large wings were created by the end of the day, comprised of feathers from each student and many of the adults as well. These will become installations in each school's library - signifying that reading books gives us wings. 

Because the weather was glorious, all of the groups went outside to eat. Seeing them mixed by school and getting to know one another was fabulous. There were students outside of CVU's cafeteria, on the hill, on the football field and bleachers, and even on the baseball field. 

After lunch, everyone switched activities; those who did the art project went to workshops while those who had been in workshops created their feathers. Somehow, all of the students returned to the gym to finish out the day, say goodbye to their group leaders and new friends from the other schools, and board buses back to their home school. 

At Charlotte Central School, a new display with reflections from the day is available for all to see. Here are a few photos of that. 

We want to thank everyone on the Common Read Committee for helping to make the day a resounding success, as well as workshop facilitators from the Clemmons Family Farm, Lisa Moore Ramée, Pete Boardman, and all of the educators and especially students who were engaged and active participants.

Enjoy this video with some photos from the day in this video.