Students at Newark’s Ivy Hill School Kick Off United Way’s MY VERY OWN LIBRARY Program

United Way of Essex and West Hudson’s Hosts Women in Literature Kickoff at Newark School followed by FREE Book Fairs for 22,000 Students!


[NEWARK, NJ – March 22, 2019] Nearly 500 students at Ivy Hill School participated in the kickoff celebration of United Way of Essex and West Hudson’s My Very Own Library Book (MVOL) Program, which celebrated women authors. In all, more than 22,000 students in 35 Newark Public Schools during National Women’s History Month will receive books through the MVOL program.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh, who was joined by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Shakirah Harrington said, “Reading is key to student learning and development. I want to thank Catherine Wilson, Executive Director of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson, Scholastic, the authors, and the administration, teachers, staff and students of Ivy Hill School for an extraordinary program highlighting reading. Our students are excited to learn and the MVOL Program raises that level of excitement in our schools and at home.”

Ivy Hill Elementary School hosted a Hollywood themed book fair and special event paying homage to Women in Literature starting with a red carpet introduction of each author, followed by remarks, a brief book reading, dance, drama and the morning program closed with African drums and dance.

Ivy Hill Principal Dorrice Rayam Johnson said, “Our students at Ivy Hill are tremendously excited about receiving books and the opportunity to explore the world through the My Very Own Library Program. Thank you to everyone and especially to my students whose love of learning continues to grow – programs and events like the kickoff help us to make learning fun.”

The Ivy Hill program spotlighted 6 award winning female children’s authors. Following the morning’s assembly, the authors travelled to multiple Newark Public Schools throughout the city hosting My Very Own Library events to engage students in a discussion about being a children’s author. Free copies of their books were also distributed to students as well.

Participating authors were: Obludbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Amy Ignatow, Elly Swartz, Alyson Gerber, Ame Dyckman, and Jess Keating.