Students and families get to go inside ‘The Chocolate Factory’

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the last month students and families at the SeDoMoCha School had the opportunity to read Roald Dahl’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at home together as part of the fifth annual One Book, One School — copies were provided by the school. The shared reading program once again concluded with an ending celebration on the evening of Feb. 12 with dinner and games, as well as activities during the school day on Feb. 13 before students began February vacation.

Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom

    DELICIOUS TASTE IN ART— Among the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” works of art on display at the SeDoMoCha School are second-graders’ graphic design golden tickets and candy pop art created by grade 3 students.

    “We estimated that we had approximately 450-500 in attendance during the evening of the 12th,” SeDoMoCha Principal Julie Kimball said the day after the One Book, One School finale.
    During the evening celebration, families arrived and began the program by either enjoying dinner in the cafeteria or taking part in games in both the gym and multipurpose room. The entire menu was once again completely funded by the SeDoMoCha School Organization (SSO), and consisted of beef stew, Italian bread, a fizzy drink and a blueberry and cream dessert. Several of the items were chosen due to connections in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
    “We could not do it without them!,” Kimball said in thanking the SSO. “We are so fortunate to have their support.”
    The SSO also provided replica Wonka bar wrappers, that were placed along the hallway floors as a guide for visitors. A sign on the gym wall said, “When your games are through … see what amazing art our students can do … take a candy bar tour by following wrappers on the floor!”
    Among the various works of art on display were the kindergarteners’ printed lollipops, grade 1 students using their knowledge of illustrations to recreate a scene from the book, second-graders using their newly-acquired graphic design skills for “Golden Tickers” and candy pop art created by grade 3 pupils.

    Games included bowling, ring toss and another in which two teams raced to fill a small replica television with mints, passing the candies along in a circle only using spoons. These activities were held both during the evening and as part of the ensuing school day.
    In 2015 One Book, One School was expanded to include the middle school. On Feb. 13 some of the activities, such as Gobstopper decorating, had elementary pupils heading over to the other side of the building to join in with the older students.
    “These are the projects that came out of expanding through grade 8,” Kimball said. “The middle school students worked hard to really enhance the experience for our elementary students.”
    Also working to create a fun time for students and families were the numerous volunteers. “Most of our evening was made up of staff members, however, we did have a couple of high school students assisting,” Kimball said. “Our volunteers go so far beyond just the evening event. A majority of our K-8 staff helped out in some fashion throughout the month-long event.”
    Similar to past years, families who read One Book, One School selections at home filled out their reading logs as they went through one of the 30 chapters per night. Completed reading logs, which also provide organizers with program data, were entered into a prize drawing with a winner chosen from all nine grade levels.
    “One person from each grade level K-8 were given a Wonka bar and the next book in the series ‘Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator,’” Kimball said. She mentioned the morning announcements included trivia questions from the previous night’s chapter.
    “Teachers took on multiple approaches with the book,” Kimball said. “Many of them read the book with their class, several watched the movie and other activities are done at the teacher’s discretion.”
    School officials are looking to continue One Book, One School in 2016. “We are planning on another event next year, but we do not know at this time what the book will be and what it will look like,” Kimball said. “It is hard to believe this was our fifth year with this project.”
    Kimball said literacy teacher Carolyn Clark “has been the heart and soul behind this project and without the help of our incredible staff and the support we receive from so many parties, this event would not be possible.”
    The first SeDoMoCha Elementary One Book, One School took place in 2011 as students and families read “A Castle in the Attic” by Elizabeth Winthrop and then enjoyed a medieval feast after they finished the novel. A year later “The Indian in the Cupboard” by Lynne Reid Banks was the program selection and the ending evening event featured a Western motif and activities. In 2013 One Book, One School featured E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web” and this novel led up to a night at the fair. One year ago everyone was off to see the wizard with “The Wizard of Oz.”
    The shared reading experience, which for many of the students includes a parent or someone older, is intended to help students improve listening comprehension, increase vocabulary, understand concepts, lengthen attention spans and create a positive attitude toward books.

Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom

    A GOLDEN TICKET TO FUN — The fifth annual One Book, One School program at the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft concluded with dinner and games on the evening of Feb. 12 as well as activities during the following school day. In 2015 the novel was “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and the activities all tied in to the book.