Lindbergh Elementary rewards good attendence with book vending machine
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Lindbergh Elementary is "turning the page" with encouraging good attendance from students.
The school’s PTA purchased a book vending machine to reward students who show up at least 95% of the time with a new book.
The vending machine will also be used for various other purposes throughout the school year.
“This is a way to help promote literacy and get more books into their hands every month. They get called down and are given a token so they can use it,” Ryleigh Nurski, reading interventionist said.
Students can also earn a token on their birthdays, giving them another chance to pick out a brand-new book while helping boost attendance in classrooms.
“This is the first month that we’ve done it so we haven’t seen a huge change yet but we have noticed the kids talking about it so we are hoping we see a boost in attendance,” Nurski said.
She added that the program is a win for everyone — families don’t have to spend extra money, and every student still gets the chance to take home a new book.
“They are all super excited to get to use it. We have lots of kids that haven’t ever used a vending machine before so they are always excited to use it and get a brand new book,” Nurski said.
Principal Gary Murphy said the idea behind the machine came from conversations with parents about keeping students more engaged and motivated.
He said he hopes the vending machine helps students build a love for reading — something he believes is key to being ready for college and future careers.
“Students and adults both will stop to watch the machine work and they will be like how does it go? What do you push? And students get excited when they walk away with a book which came out of the machine,” Murphy said.
Murphy said every student at Lindbergh will have a chance to use the machine — whether it’s for their birthday or perfect attendance and credited the PTA for making it all possible through funds raised outside the school budget.
