The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Jr. High Students Inspired You to Read and Learn

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

April 30, 2008

They were great actors, West Central Junior High students who took part in Literacy Night's Wax Museum Tuesday evening.

You just pushed an imaginary button and they came to life, and filled you in with bits and pieces of their life and hints to who they were representing.

You learned a lot about a lot of people from the books they had read. People like: Harriet Tubman, Babe Ruth, Daniel Boone, Helen Keller, Johnny Cash, Abigail Adams, Wild Bill Hickok, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, The William sisters, Albert Pujols, Gus Hurka, Cassi Bernall, The Wright brothers and others.

There were also fictitious characters such as , Anastasia and Hugo Caberet, and books about actors such as Ashley Olsen and Mary Kate Olsen.

It was obvious that students loved reading and acting out their parts. There were so many things I had forgotten about the fun of reading books at school.

Although, they all were excellent, I think the most moving one for me was Montana Pence describing Cassi Bernall in the book, "Yes I Am." Cassi was murdered April 19, 1999, in the Columbine shooting after two deranged classmates went on a shooting spree in the Columbine school, killing 12 students. Cassie's last words came after they had asked students hovering in a library, if anyone was a Christian. Her response was, "Yes, I am." Then they shot her.

Another way that kids are doing book reports were by making posters and placing them on the wall. Not only did they place a picture of the character, write about the book, but answered questions about what "life's lesson" they had learned from the book, or if it was a movie, what would you name it? There were also other activities and it was a wonderful evening for students, and those who attended. The teachers are doing a wonderful job.