Columbia Vista Intermediate has a fun new way to inspire reading with a new book vending machine. Students can now earn special tokens that can be used to “purchase” a book of their choice from the machine. Each book is theirs to keep, helping students build their own book collections and celebrate reading.
The project was made possible through the support of the Greater Hermiston Community Foundation and the Umatilla Parent Teacher Club. The Parent Teacher Club submitted a grant to the foundation and was awarded the full amount needed to purchase the machine.
After purchasing a book vending machine for McNary Heights Elementary last year, the Umatilla Parent Teacher Club wanted to ensure that students at the newly opened Columbia Vista Intermediate School had the same opportunity to enjoy earning and choosing their own books.
“The kids were really invested in the one at MHES," said Tina Ridings, who works at Umatilla High School and helped write the grant as part of the Parent Teacher Club. “Moving to Columbia Vista Intermediate, we wanted them to still have that visual, to get to walk by it every day and give them motivation to want to get a book and read.”
To celebrate its arrival, the school hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 15. The entire fourth-grade class gathered to watch as the ribbon was officially cut on the machine and as fourth grader Sophia became the first person to use the vending machine. She earned her token by turning in her 20/20 Reading Challenge sheet from over the summer.
Students earn tokens by turning in their monthly 20/20 Reading Challenge sheet. The challenge encourages students to read aloud for 20 minutes a day for 20 days each month, with parents signing off each day. Once completed, students turn in their form to receive a token for the vending machine. Columbia Vista will officially kick off the reading challenge on November 1.
The new vending machine is already sparking excitement among students and staff, and students are eager to start reading and earning books.