Hardy Elementary will start the new year with a schoolwide appreciation for literature. We have our regular event called Family Friday on Jan. 10, followed by Coffee with the Principal. Parents and other family members are invited to read with their children in the classrooms or share in other instructional activities that morning. 

Then, parents will come together to join in the citywide initiative One Book, One San Diego, a community reading program. The purpose of the program is to bring together our community and encourage residents to join together in the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book. 

The 2019 One Book, One San Diego selection is “The Great Believers” by Rebecca Makkai. At Hardy’s November Family Friday event, we gave away 15 copies of the books for parents to be part of the story. We will have our own Hardy Family Book Club session to talk about the book on Jan. 10. Our friendly, neighborhood youth librarian, Mr. Bijan Nowroozian, from our local College-Rolando Library, will lead the discussion.
Later this month, all classrooms will read the children’s title “Dreamers” by Yuyi Morales, as part of our celebration of The Great Kindness Challenge during the week of Jan. 27-31.

—Laura Alluin is principal ofHardy Elementary School.