Hazel Grove Elementary spotlights 'One School One Read' to boost family reading

Hazel Grove Elementary presented its new One School One Read program to the Lee's Summit R‑VII Board of Education, describing a three‑week, schoolwide reading initiative designed to engage students, staff and families.

Amy Westcott, principal at Hazel Grove Elementary, introduced librarian Jody Fisher, who said the program used the picture book Malcolm at Midnight and encouraged families to read two chapters per weekday for three weeks. Fisher said she recorded audio readings of each chapter and posted them in the district learning platform for families who preferred that format. Each weekday featured an activity for students (for example, Mystery Reader Monday and Trivia Tuesday), and the school hosted a poster contest that drew 27 submissions. Fisher said the family celebration included an obstacle course, mask‑making, a photo booth, a reading room and a district bookmobile distributing free books.

Fisher noted a planned concluding event featuring a zoo visit was postponed because of a snow day and that the school will work with the zoo to reschedule. Principal Westcott also introduced volunteer Elizabeth Rowland, who the school recognized for contributions organizing a read‑a‑thon and working with students one‑on‑one.

Why it matters: The program is an example of a school‑level literacy initiative meant to build family engagement, support early literacy and connect community volunteers to classroom reading activities.

Provenance: The spotlight was presented during agenda item 3.01; program details and the volunteer recognition appear in the transcript.