March has been filled with excitement, imagination, and a true love of reading across Hemlock Public School District’s elementary classrooms. As part of March Is Reading Month, students have embraced books with passion, curiosity, and enthusiasm—turning pages into adventures and stories into lifelong learning moments.
Throughout the month, classrooms have welcomed a wide range of special guests who took time to read with students, share their own love of literacy, and reinforce the importance of strong reading skills. These visits created meaningful connections and showed students that reading matters far beyond the classroom.
We are incredibly grateful for the time and support of our community leaders and partners, including State Representative Matt Berlein, State Representative Tim Kelly, State Representative Amos O’Neal, and Senator Daley, who each spent time engaging with our students. Their presence sent a powerful message about the importance of education and literacy.
In addition, we were proud to welcome members of our Board of Education and district leadership team into our classrooms, including Trustee Lindsey Kerry and members of our administrative team: Laura Schauld, Hannah LaPaugh, Melissa Schwab, Lindy Beckman, Denise Dowdell, Lela Gronski, and Superintendent Dr. Don Killingbeck. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to supporting our youngest learners and celebrating their growth.
Students also had the unique opportunity to hear from guest author Jodi McKay, whose visit inspired creativity, storytelling, and a deeper appreciation for the writing process.
“March Is Reading Month is always a special time in our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Don Killingbeck. “Seeing our students engaged, excited, and confident as readers is what it is all about. We are grateful for the many individuals who took time out of their schedules to invest in our kids. That is what makes Hemlock such a special place.”
While many individuals were able to participate, there were simply too many supporters to name individually—each one playing a role in making this month memorable for our students.
As we move into the final stretch of the school year, the momentum built during March Is Reading Month will continue to fuel a strong culture of literacy across Hemlock. One thing is clear—our students are not just learning to read, they are learning to love reading.
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