Businessman
Neil Hamilton, left, listens as Sherman Elementary principal Michael Brennan
explains Flashlight Fridays to Melissa Hanner’s 22 third-graders. Students at
Sherman Elementary School are about to finish each week in the dark, but they
will keep on reading.
Flashlight
Fridays have come to Sherman, thanks to the creativity of Robin Burkhardt,
library media professional, and the generosity of a local businessman.
“Flashlight
Fridays is a motivation for kids to read more,” said principal Michael Brennan.
“Who doesn’t remember the fun of using a flashlight to read under the covers or
in a corner of their darkened room?
“Each Friday
at 3 o’clock we will turn out the lights for 30 minutes in first-, second- and
third-grade classrooms so students can select books and read by flashlights.”
When
Burkhardt decided to promote Flashlight Fridays she turned to Neil Hamilton of
the Hamilton Insurance Group for help. Hamilton provided 300 small flashlights
for the project.
“Mr.
Hamilton gave a lot of support when I was (the librarian) at Woodland,”
Burkhardt said. “He has always been helpful to our schools, so I went to him
first.”
Hamilton, in
turn, praised Burkhardt’s enthusiasm for motivating students.
“She’s such
a strong asset to Mansfield City Schools,” he said.
Hamilton
joined Brennan in Melissa Hanner’s classroom, where Brennan explained
Flashlight Fridays to her students. Their enthusiasm was obvious.
“Why do you
think people like Mr. Hamilton want to help our schools?” Brennan asked.
A girl
raised her hand. “He wants us to learn,” she said.
Brennan
asked Hamilton to explain why he wanted to provide the flashlights.
“You are all
going to be the future leaders of our community,” Hamilton told the
third-graders. “The more you learn, the farther our community can go.”
Brennan distributed
flashlights to the students, each of whom selected a favorite book and a
favorite spot to read. Then the lights were turned off and the room got quieter.
The rehearsal
for Flashlight Fridays was underway.