We know that strong literacy skills are built not only through instruction, but through moments that help students see reading as something that belongs to them. On Wednesday, December 10, Lafayette Elementary School created one of those moments during its second annual Book Blast, held as part of the school’s PBIS assemblies.
The morning unfolded through two PBIS assemblies, one for intermediate students and one for primary students. These gatherings are familiar spaces at Lafayette, where students come together to celebrate positive behavior, reinforce shared expectations, and recognize the ways they show up for their school community each day. This year, those celebrations included something students could carry beyond the classroom and into their homes.
In total, 739 books were distributed, ensuring that every student received a book of their own.
As books were placed into students’ hands, the excitement in the room was immediate. Some students opened their books right away, flipping through pages or pointing out illustrations to friends. Others held onto them carefully, already thinking about where they might keep them at home. For many students, it was another addition to a growing personal library. For others, it marked the beginning of one.
The idea for Book Blast grew from a recommendation by Principal Dr. Grill, who encouraged Lafayette to explore a schoolwide book giveaway as a way to strengthen literacy and build community at the same time. Instructional Coach Tricia Cortes embraced the idea, seeing it as a meaningful opportunity to support students’ love of reading while bringing families into the experience.
Lafayette followed a model designed to make books accessible to all students. Families participated through a fundraiser, earning books for their own children and, in many cases, contributing additional support for the school. At the same time, the program ensured that every student received a book. No child was excluded, and every student left the assembly with something they could truly call their own.
For Cortes, the experience is deeply rewarding. As an instructional coach, her work centers on helping students build confidence and joy around reading. Seeing students receive books during a PBIS assembly, a space that already honors effort, responsibility, and positive choices, reinforced the idea that reading is part of who they are as learners.
Her hope is that students create a special place at home for their books, whether it’s a shelf, a bin, or a backpack pocket, somewhere that signals ownership. She hopes those first books lead to more, and that daily reading becomes part of students’ routines, supported by families and fueled by curiosity.
By embedding Book Blast into a PBIS assembly, Lafayette sent a clear message. Literacy is not separate from school culture. It is part of how we celebrate students, build community, and support lifelong learning.
As Lafayette continues this tradition, Book Blast stands as a reminder that when access, encouragement, and shared values come together, a single book can open the door to a lifelong love of reading.