Author’s Visit
Dear Editor: What do you get when you mix sunshine, books, students, families, the community, and visiting author Stuart Gibbs? Reading magic! Avid readers double down. Reluctant readers pick up books. Parents read with their children and classrooms read together. Teachers and librarians agree. Kids commit to reading when they can choose the books they read and when they connect with a favorite author. This reading magic happened because Sitka worked together in a year-long project to bring author Stuart Gibbs to Sitka.
Thank you to Allen Marine for including the author on a tour of Sitka Sound. Mr. Gibbs trained as a field biologist and appreciated the opportunity to see local wildlife. Sitka’s hospitality is a real draw when inviting authors and presenters to town.
Sitka Rotary Club shares the goals of Rotary International in promoting education and literacy. Thank you, Rotary, for your role in inspiring readers in Sitka and beyond. You made this happen.
Sitka Emblem Club is a leader in literacy efforts in Sitka. It is a cornerstone of the Sitka Imagination Library (SIL). One thing we wondered was how many SIL graduates took part in the author visit! It is exciting to see early readers turn into reading stars. Thank you, Emblem Club, for all you do for the community.
Sitka Moose Lodge came through when we needed it most. Their contribution meant we were able to create a dream event for the public. More than 65 people attended, mostly families. There was a meal, book signings, photographs with the author, parents connecting with other parents, family conversations about reading, a book giveaway raffle, and a great presentation.
White’s Incorporated has the community’s back. We took part in their tip jar program. It gave us a chance to raise money for books. Thank you to all the patrons who ordered ice cream, learned about the author, and donated to our effort.
Thank you, Karen Case and Subway of Sitka. Your generosity meant we were able to provide an entire meal for the families who attended the evening event. Two giant subs proved a yummy meal for a very large crowd.
First Bank of Sitka helped with the airfare that made the trip for the visiting author possible. Thank you, Sarah Allison!
The Friends of Sitka Public Library are all about books, reading, literacy, libraries, and authors. Thank you for your support of literacy efforts for the Sitka Public Library and its extended community.
Turner Guest House provided a luxurious coastal retreat for our visiting author – Meggan Turner, you are a priceless part of the fabric of Sitka.
Thank you to the team at Keet Gooshi Heen. Fifth grade teachers Roxann Gagner, Jennifer Tulloh, Jennifer Grant and Jennifer Reid bared their fangs and competed in an online T. Rex battle to raise money for the event. Gagner clawed her way to victory, earning her classroom the title of the Reading Rex. Thanks to students and families for contributing. We appreciate the use of the Keet MPR for the public event. Thanks to Wyatt Kegley and mom Evanne Kegley, and to Sarah and Tyler Eddy for their help in setting up for the event.
Online donors included Laura, Adi and Emily Matthews, Tito Sabangan, Quentin and Ruby, Amanda Johnson, Debbie Hansen, Team Ferguson, Hailee’s family, Jennifer Dunnavant, Plaisance, Divina Casulucan, Piper, Diana Santos, Amanda Orlando, Frank and Cate Sutton, the Fujioka family, Heidi Lihou, Ricky Urias, the Edwards family, the Díaz-Torres family, Kelly Chevalier, Harry W. Bradley, the Roy family, the Branthoover family, Tsali, Dagny and Kurt Danga-Storm, and the Samman family.
Blatchley held a ‘‘spy school’’ competition to encourage reading. Kudos to rising eighth-grader Rihana Lundvick for cinching the victory for Team Allison. Thanks to teachers Alexander Allison and Brock Vowell for hosting the author’s visit and encouraging their students to read, read, read. Special thanks to Suzi Wilson for coordinating the many donations that made the author visit possible.
Betty Richter, Sitka High School English Teacher;
Anita Simic,
Keet Gooshi Heen Librarian;
Kari Sagel, Community
and Family Engagement
