Community celebrates unveiling of first StoryWalks®
(Seguin) – You’re invited to come out, take a walk and enjoy a great story. Thanks to a collaborative effort initiated by the Seguin ISD, the community this week celebrated the public installation of the new #SeguinReads StoryWalks® The Story Walk consists of 17 reading boards that have been placed along the walking trail outside of the Seguin Public Library.
The public installation was the idea of Seguin ISD’s Lead Librarian, Jackie Silvius. That idea was then made possible thanks to a grant awarded to her last year by the Seguin Education Foundation (SEF).
Helping to piece the project all together was the Seguin High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Under the direction of their teacher Jason Rice, students built the wooden book stands that help safeguard the large book pages.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony at the public library, Silvius couldn’t help but get emotional when talking about the team effort and countless hours that went behind making this project possible.
“It feels so amazing to have so much support from so many groups in town and as soon as I expressed the desire to have this in our community, everybody jumped on board. I didn’t have to convince anybody, and I don’t think you get that everywhere and it just feels real good,” said Silvius.
Silvius also couldn’t help but turn to the large number of Seguin High School Matador Band members who were on hand to provide music for the celebration. She says it’s because of them – the kids – that the community has come together.
“I first learned about it at a summer conference and as soon as I heard of the idea, I knew that it would be good for our community and I believe the librarian that started it there, she saw the effect it had on her community,” said Silvius.
The grant that was awarded will go towards funding three StoryWalks in Seguin. Of course, the Seguin Public Library is the first location to host the project.
Hannah Farmer, the assistant director at the Seguin Public Library, says the city is thrilled to be a partner with the Seguin ISD.
“Oh, I was thrilled. This has been something that I’ve wanted to bring to the trail especially when the new trail opened, the walk that goes all the way to Starcke Park. This is the perfect location for something like a Story Walk and when I heard about the Story Walk project, I knew that our library was the perfect setting. It’s just very difficult to do it on your own. So, when Jackie Silvius approached the library and the parks department, I knew that this was the time –things coming together and people coming together to help make it happen as a collaboration and so I was really excited,” said Farmer.
“This is a School” by John Schu is the first featured book for the StoryWalk.
Farmer says although they are children’s books, they are great stories for any age.
“It’s really nice for a short little walk especially for little legs. When you are thinking about the ages 0-5 group, you really want to build early literacy and even up to second, third grade – these are picture books that can be enjoyed by everybody, and I love this selection for book #1,” said Silvius.
Farmer says the Seguin ISD has done an incredible job promoting its #Seguin Reads Program and looks forward to continuing that momentum along the trail.
“At first, every month (we will rotate out books) because that will go along with the Seguin Reads Program because the schools pick “One Book, One District” and all the schools read the same book for that month and do programs around that book. So, this would correspond to those books that the Seguin ISD (features). In the future, maybe quarterly (rotate out) but it’s flexible. That’s the main thing,” said Farmer.
Seguin ISD Superintendent Dr. Veronica Vijil says the installation of this first #Seguin Reads Story Walk is yet another a reminder on the importance of reading.
“Jackie’s idea to bring the StoryWalks® program to Seguin will benefit children and families for years,” said Dr. Vijil. “Seguin ISD is proud to have a part in this project, and we are very excited there are two additional StoryWalks® in the works.”
The two remaining StoryWalks® are planned for installation along the walking trails at Bauer Park and Park West.
Also helping to bring the project to reality is Pecantown Books & Brews. The local bookstore has agreed to sponsor the books for this first year.
The #SeguinReads StoryWalk® is free and open to the public. The start of the reading begins outside of the Seguin Public Library right next door to Curiosity, one of the city’s Squirrels in its Squirrel Trail Program.
