The school year might be winding down to a close, but for one west Boise elementary school, preparing for next year is already underway thanks to the Idaho Lottery’s Classroom Wishlist program. Longtime Librarian Carolyn Knam at Frontier Elementary School made a request for six new library tables that the students can use when they visit the school’s centrally located library.
“The old tables were an unfortunate casualty of COVID,” Carolyn remarked when the Lottery delivered the new tables on a warm sunny spring day in May. “Because we had to clean them so often, and with the type of cleaner we had, it ate away the surface top so much that the only thing we could was to replace them. We’ve had rental tables all year so when the opportunity came to make the wish, I made the grant application. We really needed these new tables.”
The old tables were original to the school when it first opened in 1984. The new tables will provide a better fit for the students and create a more comfortable learning environment that supports the school’s diversity.
The 300 or so students at Frontier Elementary represent dozens of nationalities and speak 26 different languages. The school’s Hall of Flags leads directly to the library and proudly displays the assortment of home country flag for all the students – including from places as remote as Nepal and Burundi.
Carolyn admits this amount of unique diversity can be challenging to get students reading proficiently at grade level, but she’s up to the task and creating a positive environment is first step.
“It’s Christmas in May! We may not have the tables ready by next week, but we will have them ready to go by next fall,” added Carolyn. “Some schools asked for materials to repair book covers, but I do a good job with that. I felt our students needed a better library experience. So, I put in the grant for these tables. Thank you, Idaho Lottery!”
Carolyn’s enthusiasm and passion for her work is evident. It’s hard to visit her library and not take a book to read yourself. “Whether it’s graphic novels, traditional stories, mysteries, histories, I want to get students reading,” she admitted. “I don’t know if I’ll ever retire. For me, this is not a job, it’s a joy.”
Classroom Wishlist awarded 51 projects this fiscal year for a total of nearly $95,000 in much needed supplies, equipment and furniture.
