Archive: Around Town

Lansing's Raymond C. Buckley Elementary School is sporting a new look with a 9 by 12 foot vinyl banner that promotes reading.  The banners are produced by Ithaca's Family Reading Partnership, based on illustrations from children's books that are included on their annual calendar.  "I happen to be on the board of the Family Reading Partnership," says Principal Earlene Carr.  "There are many schools in the area that are sporting these banners.  They are also downtown on prominent buildings.  I thought they look wonderful and make the buildings look so much more inviting."

Carr approached Lansing PTSO President Kay Thomas to see if the organization would be interested in sponsoring the banner.  "We would like to have a banner at our school," Carr told her. " We want to encourage kids to read.  We think that this banner supports family reading, which is what we endorse, and it really ties into our program.  Would PTSO sponsor it?"


Thomas agreed, so Carr called Family Reading Partnership Executive Director Brigid Hubberman, who sent her the 2006 calendar with illustrations that were avilable.  It included illustrations from popular authors including Sandra Boynton, Rosemary Wells, Ted Arnold, Nancy Carlson, and Max Grover, among others.  School librarian Sam Foley and art teacher Jessica Stratton were given the task of choosing the art with input from the rest of the faculty.  They chose an illustration from Suzanne Bloom's 'A Splendid Friend Indeed' because Bloom had visited the school and read to the kids there.

The banner was unfurled at a ceremony two weeks ago that was attended by the whole school including students, teachers, and staff.  Bloom gave Carr permission to use the art on invitations that were put together and sent out by school secretary Sybel Bush.  They were sent to school board members and administrators, staff, the Family Reading Partnership and to Bloom herself.


Carr talked about why the design was chosen and showed students the book.  "We are so excited to be unveiling this banner today, because it represents what we think is important, which is to read, read, read!" Carr told the crowd.  "And to have your parents read to you."

On the count of three George Fenner unfurled the banner from his post on the roof, and Business Administrator Larry Lawrence caught the bottom so that everyone could see it.  "It was exciting," says Carr.  "The kids had never seen it before."


Family Reading Partnership began the 'Billboard Project' in 2003 to promote the importance and joy of families reading together.  The first year local artists were invited to create original art, and since then the banners have sported art by famous children's book authors as well as original art created for the project.  The organization makes the banners available in the 9' x 12' size, as well as a set of 12 3' x 4' banners.

Carr is delighted with the result.  "It's up there and it look really great," she says.  "We've very proud of it and we think it makes our school look even spiffier."

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