One School, One Book: A ‘Squeak-tacular’ Success at Lewis Cass Elementary!

Students, staff, and families at Lewis Cass Elementary recently came together for a literacy celebration that was nothing short of “squeak-tacular.” The halls of the school were filled with excitement, laughter, and the spirit of adventure during this year’s One School, One Book program. Our program, centered around Beverly Cleary’s beloved classic The Mouse and the Motorcycle, aimed to inspire a passion for reading among the school community. Each student and staff member received a personal copy of the book, encouraging discussions both in classrooms and at home. The themes of focus from our selected reading were adventure, friendship, hard work, and loyalty.

The program kicked off with a high-energy convocation featuring Principal Mr. Smith making a surprise entrance on a real motorcycle, mirroring the story’s adventurous character, Ralph the Mouse. The event set the tone for several weeks of engaging activities designed to bring the book to life for students of all ages. Themed decorations of mice, cheese, and motorcycles were hung throughout the building to add to the excitement.

Students eagerly participated in daily trivia challenges, with correct answers earning entries into prize drawings. On two separate days, the school hosted exciting “mouse hunts,” where students searched the building for hidden stuffed mice and cheese-shaped squishies, redeemable for fun prizes. In the classroom, teachers incorporated related classwork and activities to continue the understanding of and interest in the story. Specials classes included activities such as drawing missing motorcycle posters in art, writing a special song in music, researching related topics, and using that information to create Google presentations.

A highlight of the program was our “Door Wars” decorating competition. Classrooms competed by designing doors that reflected the story, with an emphasis on student involvement and theme relevance. Student council members selected the winners based on creativity, relevance to the story, and student involvement. Winning classrooms received a “Greatest-Of-All-Time” trophy and an ice cream party.

The grand finale of our program was a school-wide field trip to the Mary Max Movie Theatre. Students had the opportunity to watch a film adaptation of The Mouse and the Motorcycle. As they enjoyed a drink and popcorn snack, the story came to life on the big screen, making for a memorable experience for everyone involved.

This year’s One School, One Book initiative not only enhanced literacy skills but also positively influenced student behavior. Students showed increased attentiveness and motivation to meet expectations. For both students and staff, it was an unforgettable celebration of reading, fostering joyful moments, and creating lasting memories for everyone involved.