On Thursday, November 15, 2012, Blue Ridge Elementary School hosted its first-ever Reading Fair! We feel it was a tremendous success with over 200 family members in attendance!The fair centered on a competition of storyboards within each grade. Thanks to all students and families who entered. In addition, we were able to offer our students and parents’ arts & crafts activities, storytelling, games, workshops on building reading skills, a puppet show, foods from children’s literature, Accelerated Reader information, Fannin County Library Card sign up, F.L.A.G. information, and a chance to meet published authors in our community and region! None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support we received from all of our local supporters, especially the Doug Nuelle Family!

Dr. & Mrs. Nuelle not only donated door prizes that were drawn during the fair but also the prize money and a Kindle to a lucky recipient! In addition, we would also like to thank Mountain Tops Cabin Rental for donating one night’s stay to one of our regional authors. Without this donation, she would not have been able to attend! Mercier’s allowed us to show appreciation to our three judges with lovely gift baskets! Words cannot express our sincere gratitude for your donation. We would like to thank the Fannin County Library for uniting with Blue Ridge Elementary for this wonderful night of reading!

F.L.A.G. was also an important attendee at our fair! Not only does our school encourage reading for students, but families as well! We also had numerous parent, teacher, and community volunteers to work and help prepare for the fair. Without your contribution, our dream would not have become a reality. Thanks go to our three judges, Susie Taylor, Jennifer King, and Teresa Haymore. Your patience and participation in our first-ever Reading Fair is greatly valued.

Finally, a special thank you to all of our authors who drove from near and far to join us on this momentous occasion: Donny Seagraves, Robyn Hood Black, Paula Puckett, Christine Callihan, Raland J. Patterson, and Jennifer Jabaley. You gave our students the opportunity to meet a “REAL” author and share your craft. It truly does “take a village to raise a child,” and without the support of our parents, teachers, and community the impossible would not have been made possible!

Sincerely,
Blue Ridge Elementary Accelerated Reader Committee