After the re-opening of Old Fort Elementary, following Hurricane Helene, Scholastic reached out with a generous offer to give back to the community: a full classroom makeover for one deserving class. In the days leading up to Christmas, students participated in a school wide reading challenge, logging as many books as they could in 30 days. Mrs. Stephanie Roark’s class proudly earned the top spot with the most books read.

One Friday morning, Lisa Thomas, a Scholastic representative, arrived to reveal the exciting surprise. Mrs. Roark’s classroom was awarded a brand-new reading nook complete with cozy pillows, $1,200 in new books, and a special visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog. The makeover not only celebrated students’ hard work but also reinforced the joy of reading and the power of community support.