Library Club Read-A-Thon Event

What: A Harry Potter-inspired evening for Library Club students AND our library's only fundraiser for the year. Students collect pledges for reading for at least three hours and participate in events like Triwizard Tournament maker challenges, Quidditch matches, and book talks at The Leaky Cauldron.

Why: Bring kids together around a love of reading and raise money to support library programs and activities, including reading outreach initiatives and books for those in need

When: Friday, February 28th from 4:20 - 9:30 p.m.

Who: CRMS Library Club Members get first priority to attend. If extra spots are available, we will give other CRMS students the opportunity to join in. Vandegrift NHS and PALS students, CRMS parent volunteers, and CRMS teachers work together to make this an amazing, memorable experience for participating students.

How: Interested students will complete paperwork, including pledge intentions and permission forms and bring it to the library in person at the January 11th Library Club meeting at 8:15. We will not accept early forms, and forms must be submitted to Mrs. Wright directly from students - not from parents and not through the main office. Participating spots will go to students in the order that complete paperwork is received. 

If students get a spot (we are limited due to fire codes), they will receive a Hogwarts Acceptance letter the week of Jan. 13th (probably delivered to their ELA class). This includes fundraising information. The minimum recommended pledge donation per student is $50. ACCEPTED STUDENTS ALSO WILL ATTEND A MEETING ON JANUARY 17th at 8:15 to go over fundraising details, supplies, and this year's activities.

Short Steps for How:
1) pick up or print Read A Thon paperwork
2) turn in 2 complete forms directly to Mrs. Wright on Friday, January 11th, starting at 8:15, including a promise to pledge a minimum $50 to the library fundraiser
3) once students have a Hogwarts acceptance letter to confirm a spot, attend the Read A Thon meeting on Friday, January 17th at 8:15 for more details
4) pledges come in to our school online - no cash is needed
5) a parent meeting for Read A Thon participants will be scheduled in early February - details to follow
6) students bring supplies to the library before school on Friday, February 28th, attend school that day, and then go directly to the Read-A-Thon event that night.
7) parents pick up students at the cafeteria side doors at 9:30 p.m.

Fundraising: This is our library's main fundraiser, and our goal is to provide programs to connect all students to our campus with a variety of events. These include Trivia Night and Film Festival, Maker Days, Library Club, Mini Contests, Reading Rumble, Reading Challenge parties and incentives, Game-A-Palooza, Book Clubs, creative supplies for library lessons, and Read A Thon itself. We will be using an online fundraising program this year (similar to what that band has used for the past few years), so that students can connect digitally to their pledge donors, and all the funds are collected online. We really appreciate the generous donations we have been fortunate to receive.

What it's not: It's a fun experience, but it's for students who love reading and plan to do a lot of reading at this event. There will be opportunities to run and move and talk (Quidditch, craft stations, feast), but there will be a lot of sustained reading time.

It is not an event for younger or older siblings, or even parents. While we do have some select parent volunteers (and we are grateful for them!) who attend (often in costume!), we keep the event focus on the Canyon Ridge students' experience the entire evening.

If extra spots are available, we will welcome interested CRMS students who cannot usually attend Library Club meetings (due to band or sports or another conflict), however, Library Club members get the first opportunity to claim spots, and that total number is limited by fire code.

What Students Need to Bring: Details will be provided in Hogwarts Acceptance Letters for the event, but the main things are a positive attitude and some books they want to read. Students can also wear Harry Potter themed costumes and accessories, and they will probably want to bring a pillow and blanket, a sheet to clip to chairs/shelves to construct a cozy tent-fort reading space, and a flashlight or book light. Snacks and dinner will be provided.

Sneak Peek at some Diagon Alley/Hogwarts School Activities: Honeydukes Sweets, Quidditch, Maker Crafts, Escape Room Challenges, and more! It will be so much fun - we can't wait to celebrate our love for books and reading!

The following details apply to the 2024 Read-A-Thon - some of these things may be adjusted for the 2025 event:

Printable Read A Thon Program Overview Page

When paperwork is submitted by , students will be given a QR code and have until 2/9 to pay $10.50 online at the school store - this fee covers the cost of pizza, drinks, and snacks at the Read-A-Thon event. This on-time online payment, in addition to the completed paperwork, will secure students a spot at the event. Participants can expect to receive their Hogwarts admission letters (confirmation of event participation) by Monday, 2/12, if they follow this timeline and spots are available.

We ask that participants commit to at least $30 in pledges per person. Last year, this event raised over $5,000 and it enabled us to purchase books for teachers' classrooms, books for family Thanksgiving baskets, and activity materials for library lessons and programs. We hope to raise even more this year to continue to add maker station materials like board games, jewelry making, video studio booths, books for English language learners and picture books for teacher read-alouds, books for reading challenge incentives, and supplies for programs and events like Trivia Night, Reading Rumble, and Reading Challenge parties. Book buying budget deadlines happen about halfway through the school year, but sometimes students will request new books in the spring - this allows us to purchase some select titles that kids really want. Pledge funds are due February 29th, and can be submitted online from local or distant friends and family members. Sponsors will receive a thank you and certificate of completion from readers after the event.