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Middle-school ‘Positivity Reading’ club reads to elementary students and donates books
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Summary
Princeton Middle School students from the Black Affinity Club described a district volunteer program that paired middle-school readers with second graders and will donate copies of selected books to four elementary schools as the district plans to expand the project next year.
At a special meeting of the Princeton Board of Education, members of the Princeton Middle School Black Affinity Club described a volunteer reading program that brought middle-school students into elementary classrooms to read books by Black authors and lead follow-up activities.
Camilla Williams, secretary at Princeton Middle School and the club’s advisor, told the board the project was intended to “build community, confidence, and a commitment to service” among middle-school students. Heather Steele, a middle-school counselor who supervised student visits, introduced the student readers and said the program aims to foster leadership and a love of reading.
Student reader Amalie White said the group selected books that emphasize kindness and self‑belief and described seeing second graders respond with smiles and questions. “Watching them connect with the books reminded us that small actions can make a big difference,” Amalie said. Makani Johnson and Aceda Sarpong said they found the experience rewarding and hoped more middle‑schoolers would take part.
Steele told the board the Positivity Reading Project will donate copies of Testing the Ice and The Old Truck to Community Park, Johnson Park, Little Brook, and Riverside elementary schools and plans to expand the program to all district elementary schools in the 2026–27 school year.
Board members thanked the students and staff for the presentations. Chair closed the item by noting the district appreciates volunteer-led initiatives and encouraged continued collaboration with elementary schools.
