The Village Bank helps John Ward School students ship books to pen pals in Guyana

AUBURNDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, January 8, 2007 … Fifth-graders at the John Ward Elementary School in Newton recently donated 140 pounds of books from their personal libraries to be shared with students at Port Kaituma School in Guyana. When the proceeds of their “A Book and A Buck” drive fell short of the amount needed to ship their contribution, the local students turned to The Village Bank to help.

BOOK PALS - Fifth grade students at the John Ward School in Newton collected more than 360 books to stock the shelves of the new library at the Port Kaituma School in Guyana. Sharon Dillon of The Village Bank in Newton (center, rear) arranged for the Bank to support the local students’ efforts to ship the books donated by students in classes taught by Sara McClellan and Ken Waldman at the Ward School.

“Your generous donation of $300 will make a school full of children very happy both in Guyana and in Newton, “ Literacy Specialist Naomi E. Singer, MEd told Village Bank President Kenneth C. Brennan in acknowledging the Bank’s recent contribution.

At the suggestion of two of the local fifth-graders, classmates agreed to donate a book from their personal libraries and to work at home doing chores and errands to earn a dollar to pay for the shipping. The idea was the result of a pen-pal relationship between students from the two countries, brought together by current Ward fifth-grade teacher, and former Guyana educator, Sara McClellan. Ken Waldman’s fifth-grade class at the John Ward School joined in the project, which brought in over 360 books for the Port Kaituma School library.

BOOK DRIVE - The Village Bank teamed with the John Ward Elementary School in Newton recently to help ship books collected by fifth-grade students to add to the library of the Port Kaituma School in Guyana. Ward students Larissa Lerner (left) and Samantha Libraty pose with (from left) Naomi Singer, literacy specialist; Sara McClellan, fifth-grade teacher; Sharon Dillon, The Village Bank; Michelle DeSimone, The Village Bank; David Benson, teaching assistant; and Ken Waldman, fifth-grade teacher.

The Village Bank, chartered by the state in 1910, has six full-service offices in Auburndale, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Nonantum, Waban and Wayland and a Village Loan Center in Auburndale. The Village Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a member of the Share Insurance Fund (SIF). All deposits are insured in full.

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