It’s more about reading than shredding

Given that learning is all about making connections, it is easy to understand why economically disadvantaged students know less when they begin school and learn less throughout school. They have fewer experiences and general knowledge to link with new information than their economically advantaged peers. Much of this learning simply involves having an increased vocabulary.

Close to 50 percent of Wasilla Middle School’s student body, to some degree or another, count as economically disadvantaged. So it is safe to assume they lack some of the experiences and vocabulary needed to make the connections necessary for easy learning.

There is only one way to mitigate this glaring disadvantage and that is to provide experiences and words. The most cost-effective and long-reaching method to provide these comes in the way of a book. Reading travels miles, across cultures, through time, forms complex relationships and captures universal themes such as loyalty, honesty and diligence.

Enter Shredfest.

I had heard about WMS Shredfest for years. I knew the reading incentive had something to do with snowboards and books because I had seen pictures of snowboarders jumping off the school’s roof. But, I didn’t really get it until last week.

Shredfest started in 2005 — a brainchild of Assistant Principal Jason Moore, Librarian Bonnie Cavanuagh and professional snowboarder Jason Borgstede — as an addition to an already successful reading incentive program. It culminated in four pro snowboarders — Borgstede, Travis Parker, Travis Reid and Matt Wild — jumping and sailing off the roof of Wasilla Middle School. Over time, the success of Shredfest grew too big for the roof and changed from a chance to watch the pros into a chance to actually snowboard with the pros at Hilltop Ski Area. It grew from fewer than 4,000 books read to more than 6,000 books.

When third quarter began this winter, I soon realized that Shredfest had a lot more to do with books and something to do with snowboards. During the 45-day quarter, plus Christmas break, WMS students read thousands of books; out of the 806-member student body, 813 students and teachers read at least one book and took an Accelerated Reader (AR) test to prove it. An amazing 8,169 books circulated through the library from January to March. Finally, those students reading six or more books and passing 80 percent or better on an AR test, earned a trip to Hilltop Ski Area.

On April 2, WMS Shredfest readers headed to Hilltop Ski Area to play in the snow: lift tickets and lunch were included courtesy of Shredfest sponsor Nestle Quick and the Wasilla Middle School PTA.

The hill brimmed with WMS students enjoying a sunny slope, many learning for the first time, others shredding like rock stars. Several teachers graced the slopes, stopping to help and laugh with kids along the way.

Each year the four original professional boarders — Borgstede, Parker, Reid and Wild — reserve the date to travel to Wasilla and celebrate WMS’s reading. All but Borgstede, who had to announce for the Snowboarding Nationals, made it this year. Parker flew in from Korea just in time to be found on the bunny slope giving personal lessons to first-time boarders.

But it was when I shared a lift ride with a seventh-grade boy who proudly announced he had read 14 books that I finally understood: Shredfest was very little about snow and a lot about reading.

In one bold, logistically monstrous move, Wasilla Middle School works to energize a typically lackluster third quarter into a reading frenzy. Reading leads to more connections, which leads to more learning, which earns students a chance at an experience few would ever have on their own, on the slopes having fun with their teachers.

Wasilla Middle School’s mission reads: “We are committed to the success of every student. As a staff we accept responsibility to do whatever it takes to meet the needs of all learners. We will do this because it is the right thing to do.”

Wasilla Middle School walks its talk. Shredfest is but one example of doing what is right and whatever it takes for students to have the best chance to learn. I get it now, and I am a Wasilla Brave — loud and proud.

Emily Forstner teaches at Wasilla Middle School.