December Drummond Dispatch

Drummond Elementary third grade teacher Ms. Alexis Hasty and fifth grade teacher Ms. Jami Miller each received a grant of $500 and 500 Scholastic Book Clubs Bonus Points for the purpose of building classroom and at-home libraries for their students. They are among 5,000 teachers throughout the United States who received a grant, part of a $2.5 million personal donation made by best-selling author James Patterson and a Scholastic Book Clubs match of 2.5 million Bonus Points.

To be considered for the grant, Hasty and Miller had to fill out a form on Scholastic’s website and were asked to share in 50 characters or less how they planned to use the funds and Bonus Points to help build their classroom libraries. 

Drummond Elementary ISS supervisor Adrienne Draper has written and published several children’s books. Her latest title, “Rona, Rona, GO AWAY!” was released in June. It’s a story that gives the reader a snapshot of how an 8-year-old boy and his family adjusted to the rapid changes in their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Kids were getting excited about spring break and having this extra week off of school,” Draper said. “The book focuses on the highs and lows of what happened next and makes the Coronavirus something kids can understand.” 

“Miss Kathy” was one of three Pattonville bus drivers working with Drummond Elementary School students today teaching them about the importance of bus safety. Classes took turns getting onto a bus where students were able to practice a school bus evacuation.  

“Before we go out the back door, we go over all the different scenarios and talk about what they might have to do if there is an emergency while they are on the bus,” Miss Kathy said.