As the benefactor of strong community partnerships, Oak Grove Elementary recently came up with a way to give back to Poplar Bluff.
The school’s Bright Futures site council launched the Little Red Bookshelf project last year collecting over 7,500 children’s books.
The books are located at special designated bookshelves in several partnering businesses throughout the city, and are made available for reading in waiting rooms or to take home, depending on what the associated label states.
Almost half of the books were generated during the 11th annual Jingle Jog in 2015 during which students set goals to run or walk around campus, and had the choice of bringing in a donated item for each lap completed.
“We want to make every student feel safe and welcome by providing a positive learning environment that allows for maximum success,” said Jenifer Richardson, Oak Grove principal. “We want to focus on trying to get parents involved volunteering, and just continue to stay in touch with the community, building relationships.”
Poplar Bluff Realty, which has sponsored the elementary school for four years, can be found greeting students in the mornings, and making guest appearances during events and classroom activities.
What was once known as the school in the woods back when Richardson was a student, the principal recalled, Oak Grove has had much infrastructure and commercial development take shape around campus in recent years including a state-of-the-art hospital, high school and big box businesses with more slated to break ground in the growing part of the community.