YOUNG WRITERS SHARE KINDNESS

    The students in the Britton-Hecla afterschool program, better known as the FUNtastic Club, are a creative bunch. They are also very kind, as was recently on full display. For the third year in a row, the club wrote, illustrated and published their own original book. This year, the book was “ABCs of Kindness.”  
    The FUNtastic Club is an afterschool program organized through the Britton-Hecla School District. It is made up of kindergarten through fifth grade students and provides a place for kids to go after school until 5:30. There are 26 kids in the program this year that is directed by Carol Beck and Renee Olson. 
    As they have in the past, the group received a grant from the Donald Naddy Fund to help with various projects, including the book they made this year.  This is the third year the club wrote a book. The first year, the kids authored “Animal Alliterative Adventure,” and last year it was “If I Were A….” where the kids each chose a profession. 
    This year the topic for the club’s book was “ABCs of Kindness.” The kids each chose a letter of the alphabet and then wrote their own page using that letter to describe kind acts. They youngsters also illustrated their own page. 
    After completing their write-ups and pictures, the pages were sent off, compiled and bound into a real storybook. And thanks to the Naddy Grant funds, each student received a copy of the book. The idea to start the project a few years back came from Olson who said she saw it in an email.
    Their teachers confirmed that when they get their books, the writers are very proud of themselves. “They can’t believe that they wrote a book,” said Olson. “They are so imaginative.” 
    Last week, the FUNtastic Club hosted a reading of their new book where their parents attended. Each student read their own page and even got a chance to sign their book at the end. This year the book has a special extra twist. It was dedicated to Beck who is moving on from the program. 
    The dedication in the book reads, “To Mrs. Beck, who always reminded and showed us that kindness has the power to change the world. We thank you and will be forever grateful. We love you!!!” 
    New B-H teacher Ashley Hennings has been hired to be the director of the club starting next school year.