Cardinal school earns award in Scholastic book fair contest

ELDON ? Cardinal Elementary School was a President?s Award for Exceptional Performance winner in the fall 2011 Scholastic book fair contest.

According to Cardinal Community School District Superintendent Joel Pedersen, ?Cardinal Elementary was the first elementary to ever win on their first entry in Scholastic history.?

In November, the school participated in an R.L. Stine Scholastic Book Fair Contest, with the hope of winning the first-place prize of 2,000 Scholastic Dollars and a visit by the best-selling author, whose works include the ?Goosebumps? series.

First-place went to Union Elementary School in Temple, Ga., but Cardinal was recognized with the President?s Award for Exceptional Performance (Principal/Faculty Involvement) and rewarded with 500 Scholastic Dollars.

According to Scholastic officials, ?The superintendent of the school district let it be known that the main focus of the book fair was ?getting everyone excited about reading.? The faculty and staff of Cardinal Elementary School did just that. For the first time ever the school held a kick-off assembly, teacher sneak peek, collected One for Books donations, and made sure the number one goal was achieved: to put a book in every student?s hand. At the kick-off rally, teachers participated in an Alien Dress- Up Relay, and students cheered for each team. As a reward for reaching the book fair goal, the principal [Cindy Shepherd] went to each classroom and let them dress her as an alien. One class even contributed holiday lights, which she plugged in at the final assembly. True to his word, even the superintendent got involved, taking time to visit and read aloud to a classroom.?