Mattlin Middle School Celebrates Literacy Week With “Wicked” Theme and Community Book Drive

Students at Howard B. Mattlin Middle School stepped into the “Emerald City of Imagination” as the school community celebrated Literacy Week with the theme, “Wicked: Unlimited Possibilities … Reading Changes You for Good.” Inspired by the journey of Elphaba and Glinda from “Wicked,” the week highlighted the power of stories to transform perspectives and open the door to new possibilities.

A highlight of the celebration was a visit from author Ms. Sayantani DasGupta, who spoke with students about her creative process and the inspirations behind her novels, including “The Theft of the Ruby Lotus.” During her visit, Ms. DasGupta discussed how storytelling can shape the way people see the world and encouraged students to explore their own creativity through reading and writing.

Throughout the week, students participated in themed activities designed to build excitement around reading. Daily “Wicked” trivia questions gave students the chance to test their knowledge and win prizes, while scheduled library visits included a book tasting event and a round of Author Bingo to help students discover new favorite titles and authors.

In addition to celebrating literacy, Mattlin students also supported the community through a book drive organized by the school’s MAP classes. Thanks to the generosity of students and families, the drive collected 37 boxes of books to donate to “The Book Fairies,” a nonprofit organization that provides books to children and families in need.

Each donated book helps open the door for someone else to discover new stories, learn something new and develop a love of reading. Through Literacy Week and the book drive, the Mattlin community demonstrated that when a book is opened, the possibilities are truly unlimited.