Over 40 years ago, a 4th grade teacher named Aileen Roberts started a “Kids can be Authors' project where she taught her students how to write books. She taught them the parts of a book and how to create their own book covers. Each book was also carefully illustrated by its author.
This TRADITION is still happening at SSES! When the books are finished, they are presented to the elementary library where students can come and read them for the next eight years until they are presented back to their owners the week they graduate from high school.
The seniors are always excited to get their books back! You should see the smiles on their faces!!!
There have been many, many teachers over the years that have kept this tradition alive. Second and maybe even third generations of students now have books to share!
Mrs. Hinkel, currently a 4th grade teacher, invited Mrs. Roberts to come talk about the project now called the '4th Grade Book Project.' In her presentation, she explained that when this started there were no computers, so students would either handwrite their books, or if they were lucky, they could get their parents to use a typewriter. There have been many variations of book content over the years, and unfortunately several years had to be skipped due to COVID.
Mrs. Roberts should be commended for starting this awesome project. It not only teaches students the value of books, but it binds the young students of elementary to our older high school students whom they look up to very much!
Thank You, Mrs. Roberts!