One School, One Book, One Community: How a Story Unites Students, Families, and All of Lititz

One School, One Book, One Community: How a Story Unites Students, Families, and All of Lititz

For over 15 years, Warwick elementary students and families have kicked off spring with a beloved tradition: One School, One Book, One Community—and this year’s program was better than ever!

Thanks to generous donors like Mike and Pam Vigunas, the Warwick Education Foundation provided funds for every elementary student to receive their very own copy of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown—a captivating story full of heart, adventure, and lessons on perseverance.

“We are so grateful for the support of the Warwick Education Foundation in allowing our One School, One Book program to continue for over 15 years,” said Melissa Vulopas, Academic Learning Facilitator at John Beck Elementary. “This year was our best event to date. Without the Foundation grant, we could not have enjoyed such a successful program.”

Each family received the book, a reading schedule, and an introductory letter inviting them to read together at home. At school, students excitedly answered trivia questions and discussed story themes in their classrooms. Activities like scavenger hunts and at-home challenges kept the excitement going beyond the pages.

What if busy schedules and other commitments resulted in a night of missed reading? Students and families could tune in to prerecorded readings from their teachers and review photos of special reading spots on a brand-new website. The additional resource was not only necessary, but it revealed yet another way teachers are dedicated to their students.

And this year, something extra special happened.

Lititz businesses joined the fun by hosting a stuffed robot, moving it from shop to shop for students to find, making this year’s program feel more connected to the community than ever before.

“It was a great addition and a super way to involve the entire community,” said Vulopas.

To top it all off, students and families gathered for an Ed Foundation-sponsored movie night at Penn Cinema. This was the first time the program had included a culminating film event.

“Students loved the book, the movie, and all the fun in between,” said Vulopas. “When families read together, they send a powerful message to their children: reading matters. It can bring us together in joyful, meaningful ways.”

Thank you to our donors for making this program possible each year! Your support builds stronger families, schools, and communities—one page, one story, and one unforgettable memory at a time.

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