Seven Polk Street School students and members of Girl Scout Troop 1422 presented a proposal for the installation of a Lending Library in front of their school during the Dec. 1 meeting of the Franklin Square Board of Education. The presenting students included Sofia Brugellis, Leah Cujilan, Haleigh Kolmos, Vincenza La Russa, Madisyn Padilla, Sofia Valentino and Antonia Ventura. During their proposal, they discussed their wish to provide easy access to free books to the community, what the library would look like and the materials needed to create it, the possible locations for the library outside the school, the planned safety procedures to keep the library and donated books clean, and the benefits of reading. The presentation was part of their Girl Scout Bronze Award. The board approved the students’ request to donate a Lending Library outside of Polk Street School.

Polk Street School held an anti-bullying week event prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, from Nov. 22-24. Each day featured a themed dress-up, including Jersey Day for “Team Up Against Bullying,” Trading Places Day where students and staff dressed like one another and Pajama Day for “Putting Bullying to Bed.” The school also created Cooperation Quilts and had a schoolwide read aloud of “I Am One: A Book of Action” by Susan Verde.

Polk Street School kindergarteners and first graders enjoyed their visit with Nature Nick and his menagerie of animals, ranging from alligators to a Siberian bunny named Mr. Sprinkles. We thank our PTA Cultural Arts team for funding this awesome assembly.