PCES students vote for their favorite Bluestem book

HENNEPIN — The fourth- and fifth-grade students participating in the Bluestem Book Award Program sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) voted for their favorite book Friday, Feb. 27. This is the fifth year for the Bluestem Award book program at PCES. Students who read four of the 20 books on the list were eligible to vote for their favorite book. Students also had to pass the Accelerated Reader Quiz and complete a worksheet on the book. Fifty-nine students were eligible to vote. Students and staff enjoyed cookies, soda, and ice cream with toppings.

Sixteen of the 20 books received votes with “The Stonekeeper” by Kazu Kibuishi earning the most votes. The book with the second most votes was “Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio” by Peg Kehret. “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate was voted third. All of the votes were submitted to the state ISLMA website, and an overall favorite of all students in the state of Illinois will be announced March 20.

Fourth-grade students who were eligible to participate were Tori Balma, Blake Billups, Mikenna Boyd, Kaitlyn Brannon, Sophia Brown, Samantha Cirilo, Gracie Ciucci, Logan Cogdal, Ashton Cramer, Nicholas Currie, Lauren Faletti, Rihley Faletti, Alex Garrido, Olivia Gonzalez, Tyler Hall, Jadin Kierski, Myra Macias, Austin Mattingly, Jackson McDonald, Ryan Migliorini, Molly Miller, Milo Mucu, Quinn Postula, Andrew Pyszka, Joel Rangel, Arianna Rivera-Story, Laynee Sanchez, Gianna Sartin, Madelyn Torrence, Haile Turner, Tommy Twardowski, Spencer Voss, Tyler Waslesyn and Chase Ziano.

The following fifth-grade students read four or more books to participate: Isac Alvarado, Jimmy Baele, Lena Barr, Erin Brooker, Lucas Carroll, Katlyn Coan, McKinley Cwikla, Linzee Fay, Kalyn Grant, Will Griffith, Ryan Judd, Alyssa Keigley, Jaden Oquenda, Anthony Parks, Renae Ramey, Eddie Reveles, Lillian Sandberg, Drake Smith, Jaxon Stoddard, Jaidin Trone, Zofia Uzella, Abigail Vacca, Clayton Wellenreiter, Isaac Wujek and Ferdese Zulbeari.

A special thanks to the PCEF for their funding of a grant to provide for the purchase of books, treats, and medals. So far, 507 books have been read. Students who read all 20 nominees will receive a medal. Students have until April 17 to read all 20 if they choose to do so. Two students have read all twenty. Congratulations. Several other students are working toward this goal. Good luck.

The teachers and staff of PCES deserve a great round of thanks for all of their support of this program. Their encouragement to read and the handling of the “behind the scenes” work is greatly appreciated. This is a wonderful accomplishment of students and staff. Everyone did a great job.