Whole School Celebration of Learning

Dear Tarver Families,

We are thrilled to announce our 2025 One School One Book initiative. Tarver has chosen this whole school initiative to replace the grade level curriculum nights historically held in the Spring. Every student will receive a copy of the book to keep and read along. We will start reading February 25th, and will complete the book on March 27. Our whole school Celebration of Learning will be the night of March 27th for all Tarver students and their families.

 The book chosen this year is A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold. Thank you to our wonderful PTO for providing all the books for this initiative!

About the book: For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises - some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a stray baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter. But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet. From acclaimed author Elana K. Arnold comes from a story of first friendship starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum.

Program Details: Tarver One School One Book Webpage

• Book Distribution: A Boy Called Bat  will be distributed to students on February 25th, along with a reading schedule and additional resources.
• Program Conclusion: The initiative will culminate with an after-school Literacy Night celebration March 27th. More information to come.

Why A Boy Called Bat?: The book has been positively reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, BookList, and the School Library Journal for its relatable characters, vibrant storytelling, and impactful themes. We chose this book in part because the publisher recommends the book for grades 1-5. We believe it can also be a meaningful experience for our younger scholars in PreSchool. With cheerful illustrations, class discussions, and access to Tarver Staff audio recordings, we aim to make this book accessible and enjoyable for all grade levels.

Opt-Out Procedures: We understand that not every family may wish to participate in this program. If you would like to opt out, please contact our administrators, Donnie Beuke at Donald.Beuke@adams12.org or Mishel Reilly at mishel.reilly@adams12.org, by February 24th.. Students who opt out will engage in meaningful alternative activities in a supervised setting while their classmates participate in the program.

Questions or Concerns?: If you have any questions about the program or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Donnie Beuke or Mishel Reilly at the email addresses above.

We look forward to embarking on this shared reading journey with you and your children. Together, we can inspire a love of reading and foster meaningful conversations about community, creativity, and making a difference.

Sincerely,

Donnie Beuke, Principal
Mishel Reilly, Assistant Principal
and The Tarver Elementary OneSchoolOneBook Team