"Once Upon a Book Nook" – A Burns Sci-Tech Story!

Once upon a time, in a bright and curious 4th-grade classroom led by the kind and creative Ms. Beltram, a group of students had a dream. During recess, while some raced across the playground or shot hoops at the court, these students longed for something a little quieter; a cozy corner where they could curl up with a good book and read under the sky.

And so, the idea of a Book Nook was born.

With pencils in hand and big ideas in their hearts, these young visionaries began to plan. But dreams, as they learned, take effort and sometimes a few cookies. So together, they organized a bake sale, bringing in sweet treats and determination to raise money for supplies and materials.

As time passed, the students moved on to 5th grade. But they never lost sight of the plan, nor did Ms. Beltram.

Then, on May 13th, 2025, in front of the entire 5th-grade class, something magical happened. The Book Nook became real. There were cupcakes, laughter, and even the first official book donations, a heartfelt gift from the Paczkowski family.

Ms. Beltram and her students reunited for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the Book Nook and the power of student voice, persistence, and community.

None of this could have happened without a few very special helpers. A huge thank you to our volunteers Carl and Spencer, who built this beautiful structure with care, and to Haskell Construction for donating a two-story book library that will be added to the Nook soon. (Yes, you read that right, two stories of stories!)

But the story doesn't end there...

These incredible students are already dreaming up the next chapter: plans are in motion to build a deck around the nearby tree, creating an even larger and more enchanting outdoor reading space.

And as if that weren't exciting enough, this August, our school library is making its grand return! Our very own high school English teacher, Miss Powers, will be stepping into a new role as Library Specialist, while continuing to lead our high school SGA. Her passion for books and student leadership will help us launch a whole new era of reading adventures in the 2025–2026 school year.

So here's to the dreamers, the builders, the readers, and the doers; our students, families, and volunteers. Because of you, we know that every great story begins with a single idea... and a place to read it.

The End... (but really, just the beginning).