Slime and S’mores are two things that would be taboo in a quiet library, but they were welcome additions to the annual literacy night at DeKalb West School. Making the yummy chocolate, marshmallow treats and creating green globs of goo were just part of the fun at “Camp Read S’More: Down by the Stream.”
What started as a literacy fair a few years ago at DWS to promote the joy and importance of reading has expanded the past two years to incorporate other academic aspects—Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math.
“This year's STREAM Night was wonderful!” Librarian and STREAM Fair Coordinator Amanda Mullinax said. “There seemed to be so many smiling faces and wonderful memories made.”
STREAM Family night grew again with more than 450 turning out for the annual event on February 28.
“I believe that word of mouth plays a huge part in our participation,” Mullinax said. “Students get excited about things when their teachers are excited. We also have a great number of returning guests, so they must have had fun in the past and wanted to share in this experience again.
There was a book walk, Minute-to-Win-It games, and places to create book marks and homemade pottery, and even a station for cuddling a goat.
“Our creative and gifted faculty and staff have repeatedly taken on the challenge of providing fun while learning during this event,” Mullinax said. “I would say that they did just that again this year. I am the spreadsheet, the organizer if you will, behind this event; however, it would NOT take place if it were not for the willingness, the love for our students, and the talents of our wonderful faculty and staff here at DWS as well as the support of our DWS administrators and Central Office.”
Another highlight of the night is the poster contests that combines fiction and non-ficiton reading, science and social studies. Computer teacher Lori Pryor coordinated the STREAM Fair. Winners are listed below.
Kindergarten/1st Grade
Non-Fiction: 1st Anna Cripps, Harper Hickman, Lexi McDaniel
2nd Lavy Johnson, McKenzie Brown, Gideon Chitwood
3rd Weston Hancock
Fiction: 1st Conner Clark
2nd Mrs. Thomason’s Encore Class
3rd Davis Barnes
Science: Henry Dunaway
2nd/3rd Grade
Non-Fiction: 1st Noah Hall
2nd Abram Bratten
3rd Josee Cripps
Honorable Mention: Logan George, Jacob Blair
Fiction: 1st Emma Thomason
2nd Maggie Hendrix
3rd Lily Dunnaway
Honorable Mention: Cammi Neal, Madilyn Kitts, Carson Maynard
Social Studies 1st Mary Moore
2nd Mollie Reynolds
3rd Everly Keith, Katie Jo Prichard
Honorable Mention: Ty Vickers, Lyric Heflin, Axel Janecke
Science 1st Marley Pyburn
2nd Ripley Barnes
3rd Harper Hale
Honorable Mention: Claire Cripps, Asher Desimone, Spencer Haddock
4th/5th Grade
Non-Fiction: 1st Zane Griffith
2nd Karson Mullinax
3rd Grady Thomason
Honorable Mention: Cash Hancock, Braxton Taylor
Science 1st Levi Reynolds
2nd Sawyer Hendrix
3rd Terran Hale
Honorable Mention: Lexie South, Jackson Dunaway,
Presley Harrington, Christian Cripps
Social Studies 1st Cameron Pursell
2nd Karlee Pierce
3rd Cainnan Humphrey
Honorable Mention: Kayla Sebolt
6th/7th Grade
Non-Fiction: 1st Caroline Neal
2nd (Tie) Autumn Crook, Bella Gonzalez
3rd (Tie) Tori Harbaugh, Kaden Mullinax
Honorable Mention: Jada Hale, Kylie Pierce
Fiction: 1st Gabe Blair
2nd Katie Beth Swearinger
3rd Axton Green
Science: 1st Spencer Gregory
2nd Gage Holland
3rd Hunter Winne
Honorable Mention: Savana Muncey
Social Studies 1st Jonah Maynard
2nd Katelyn Fry
3rd (Tie) Kenzie South, Lucy Moore
8th Grade Author Study
1st Ben Barton
2nd Ben Driver
3rd Raegan Murphy
Honorable Mention: Mary Scott, Michael Justice, Cienna Mitchell
