Dirigo Reads gets SeDoMoCha first-graders excited about books
DOVER-FOXCROFT — SeDoMoCha School officials were excited to welcome some special guests into grade 1 classrooms on Sept. 19. Dan and Karen Cashman, who are the co-founders of Dirigo Reads, came to deliver a brand new book to each first-grade student.
Dirigo Reads is a program the Cashmans developed in partnership with several organizations (United Way of Eastern Maine, Sutherland Weston, Cross Insurance and Machias Savings Bank) with a mission to provide students with quality books that will help develop a life-long love of reading.
Photo courtesy of SeDoMoCha School
INSTILLING A LOVE OF READING — SeDoMoCha School Principal Adam Gudroe holds a copy of “Oliver” during a Dirigo Reads presentation on Sept. 19. Each first-grader will receive a copy and nine other books during the school year from Dirigo Reads co-founders Dan and Karen Cashman.
Principal Adam Gudroe shared that the school is “so thankful and honored to be chosen as one of only six schools in the state that will benefit from the program this year.” He added, “Being able to put a quality book in each students hands will only help build excitement and engagement in the reading process.”
The Cashmans were also very appreciative for the opportunity to hand SeDoMoCha students the first of 10 books that they will receive over the course of this school year. They shared with the students that their daughter had just completed first grade the previous school year and that they recognize how important it is for first-graders to have access to quality reading materials.
“Our goal is to have every school in the state be part of this program,” Dan Cashman said.
Those present could see the excitement in students’ faces as they received their very own copy of “Oliver” by Syd Hoff to bring home. Some pupils even shared cards with the Cashmans as a way of saying thank you before they left.
“We know that our students and families will appreciate this generous gift,” Gudroe said.
The students, staff and families of SeDoMoCha Elementary are already excited to see what books will be delivered in the coming months.