RANSON, W.Va. -- Teachers and staff at Ranson Elementary School (RES) connected with their students Monday thanks to a new event that organizers hope will become a tradition at the school. The Ranson Book Blitz delivered school supplies and two or three new books to every student who will attend the school during the 2021 - 2022 school year. RES Principal Lance Astorino said it is something he has wanted to do for a long time.
“I feel this is a great opportunity to go out and into our community, to our students, their families, their area of comfort as a way to show that we are here to assist, and we are going to do the very best to love, support, educate, and facilitate lifelong learners.”
Astorino proposed the idea to his staff who quickly got on board with the idea.
"They were thrilled. The whole staff was really excited," he said.
And they were not the only members of the RES community to be enthusiastic about the program.
"The Book Blitz will certainly build excitement among the Ranson students for the start of a new year,” according to Kiwanis Club member Penny Fuller. “More importantly, however, because of the past year's uncertainties due to the pandemic, this ‘welcome back’ effort should reassure them that Ranson Elementary School remains the same happy place with the same learning adventures they remember."
Local businesses and organizations like Kiwanis made donations to help support the effort. JCS support staff and community volunteers joined classroom teachers to make the deliveries Monday afternoon. Students return to school on August 23.