East Side trustees honor Andrew Hill juniors who self‑published a children’s book

The East Side Union High School District board on April 16 presented a certificate of acknowledgement to juniors Maggie Hall and Jenny Dong of Andrew Hill High School after the students described launching a student nonprofit to publish children’s books.

Maggie Hall told the board the project grew from an IB personal project and extracurricular work in the school’s multimedia and medical magnet programs. “My name is Maggie Hall and I’m from Andrew Hill High School,” she said, explaining the nonprofit’s goal to remove publishing barriers for low‑income students. Jenny Dong said the students’ first title, Franny, centers on a bunny who struggles with insecurity and learns acceptance without needing to gain a special skill to be valued: “it’s more about him feeling bad about himself and insecurity,” she said.

Board members praised the project’s literacy and inclusion goals. President Lelay asked the principal and trustees to join the students at the microphone and requested a photo to commemorate the recognition. Student Governing Board representative Adeline Lei encouraged fellow students and families to support similar creative efforts and highlighted the district’s upcoming multicultural festival.

The students said their nonprofit, Cape, will fundraise to print and donate copies to elementary schools, pediatric hospitals and libraries. The board’s acknowledgement did not create a district program or funding obligation but recognized the students’ achievement and encouraged staff to consider ways to amplify student publishing and literacy efforts.

The board’s regular meeting continued with remaining agenda items; the district will keep the students’ book on file in district communications and the school library as requested by the students.