Lincoln students spearhead ‘Read it Forward’ project

With a copy of “Pete the Cat” in their hands, students from Lincoln Elementary are on a mission to get people around Great Falls reading.

This week, student council members visited various businesses – everywhere from Huckleberry Healthcare to First Interstate Bank – to launch their “Read it Forward” initiative. They are leaving copies of the children’s book “Pete the Cat” in local businesses with a note on the cover explaining what they’re trying to do.

The idea is to get customers in these stores, banks, clinics and more to read the book and share it with another individual. They’re then asked to sign the book and write down the number of people they read it with, if any. The student council will then come around on March 17 to pick up copies of the book. The goal is to get 1,000 people to read the book over the course of the next month.

“I think our read it forward project is really important,” sixth-grader Sydney Weisz said. “We’re kind of pushing literacy.”

Principal Jon Konen heard about a similar project in Houston where they got more than 100,000 people to read a book. He suggested it to the student council and suggested the book – a colorful picture book telling the story of Pete the cat going off to school – but from there the student council took over.

Students brainstormed different businesses to contact, he said. They either know someone working at the business or it is close to Lincoln.

“The kids all have connections to these businesses,” Konen said. “We’re going to start small. It’s like a social experiment.”

He made sure to call the businesses and let them know the students were coming and gave the kids a little bit of coaching, but it was up to them to make the pitch.

And with the exception of one or two businesses who either didn’t have a manager around or didn’t feel they had the capacity to keep a book on hand, the students got a strong response.

“It’s OK, we can always come back another time,” fourth-grader Kaydi Taylor said after one manager wasn’t at the store.

At First Interstate Bank, Kaydi and Sydney walked into a conference room with staff to talk about their project. Sharon Sayre, administrative assistant, was happy to be a host location.

“It sounds like such an easy thing for businesses to do,” Sayre said.

Kaydi and Sydney said it’s perfectly fine for customers or clients to take their copy of “Pete the Cat” home with them and hopefully bring it back to any of the participating businesses. If someone doesn’t return the book, they’re not going to be too upset.

“If somebody keeps it at least we know somebody is reading it,” Sydney said.

“They must think it’s a good book because they’re stealing it,” Kaydi said.

Sydney said she likes that she and her fellow student council members are learning about speaking skills and leadership skills by soliciting these different businesses. She enjoys getting to make her pitch, even if it can be a little nerve-racking, like when they met with a representative at the Wells Fargo bank branch on 10th Avenue South.

“He was nice,” Sydney said. “But he was kind of intimidating because he was wearing a fancy suit.”

But he didn’t say no.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Cates at 791-1463. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_KCates.

Businesses participating in ‘Read it Forward’

Benefis Health System

Hardees (10th Avenue South)

Starbucks (3 locations)

Huckleberry Health Care

Dr. Voy’s Dentistry

Stockman Bank (10th Avenue South)

Dr. Marshall’s Orthodontics

Pita Pit

Noodle Express

The Bee Hive

Grandview

Kindred/Park Place

Great Falls Clinic

Wells Fargo (10th Avenue South)