Beaver Meadow School students and staff presented highlights from a yearlong literacy program Wednesday night funded by a $25,000 Children’s Literacy Foundation grant.

The presentation, led by Melissa Scott, digital learning specialist at Beaver Meadow, featured seven students who described author visits, family literacy nights, a three-day comic-arts residency and monthly book giveaways that provided each student multiple new books to keep.

“The Children’s Literacy Foundation is based out of Waterville, Vermont,” Melissa Scott said. “Back in March, we applied for their Year of the Book grant, and we were one of the schools chosen from Vermont and New Hampshire.”

Students described specific events. Third-grader Juliet Jones said the grant kicked off with a storyteller visit from Simon Brooks and that students took home new books after the event. A fourth grader described spending three days with comic artist Merrick Bennett creating an eight-page comic; that student later distributed a copy of her mini comic to board members. A group of students said the grant funded classroom and schoolwide book giveaways and a Read Around the World celebration with performances from Barranquilla-flavored dancers.

The presentation also noted partnerships with the Concord Public Library and local authors. “Miss Becky from Concord Public Library talked about the new books…and the cool programs that the library has for kids,” a student said, describing a school visit and shared resources between the district and the library.

Superintendent Tim Herbert and several board members praised the students. “It is so nice to see a group of young people helping each other and supporting each other,” board member Miss Hastings told the students. The board also received physical examples of student work, including the eight-page comics created during the residency.

The presentation was part of the board’s consent agenda appearance by Beaver Meadow; no formal board action on the grant was required at the meeting. School staff said the year’s final CLIF events would include an illustrator visit and the last book giveaway to complete the program year.

Board members encouraged continued family and community engagement with the program and thanked students and staff for the presentation.