NORWICH – On March 1, the Norwich City School District kicked off a community-wide event engaging all readers in One Community, One Book shared reading experience of Jim and Jamie Dutcher’s narrative nonfiction book, Living with Wolves.

The District partnered with community organizations to plan an experience involving every family, educator, and staff member in each elementary building synchronously reading Living with Wolves. The initiative kicked off with an opening assembly at each elementary building.

“This is the third year the Norwich community has partnered with organizations such as Improve Norwich Now, Guernsey Memorial Library, & local businesses to put a spotlight on literacy, and we are very excited this year to experience our first nonfiction One Community, One Book,” said Jennifer Oliver, Stanford Gibson Principal.

Several nights a week, families read chapters of the book, and then during the school day, teachers and students participate in trivia, vocabulary development, and zooms with the authors! Norwich High School students are also reading chapters aloud to broaden the experience for students. “Our readers and writers just wrapped up some robust units of study in reading and writing,” said Sara Gilbeau, Perry Browne Principal, “this text will bring that learning alive for our students.”

Living with Wolves features the work of Jim and Jamie Dutcher, wildlife biologists and authors who lived in a tent with wolves for six years. For more information about the book, head to https://www.livingwithwolves.org/

Norwich community groups have played an essential role in this One Community, One Book experience. Improve Norwich Now and The Guernsey Memorial Library coordinated to sponsor a month-long scavenger hunt at local businesses to coincide with the book. According to Jen Westervelt, I.N.N. Co-Founder and President, “It is rewarding to see the effectiveness of collaboration benefit our community as we come together to promote literacy and small businesses.”

Kim Hazen, Children’s Librarian, Guernsey Memorial Library said, “We are excited to be a part of a community-wide event that puts a spotlight on reading. A book is one of the greatest gifts to give to a child.”

For more information, head to www.norwichcsd.org, or contact NCSD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Poyer at jpoyer@norwichcsd.org or (607) 334-1600.

– Information from the Norwich City School District