From left, Santia Ringer, Gary Reese, Ashley Rollins, Principal Kate Guziejka, Kristen Fearon, Stephanie Thompson and Jeanne McCutcheon pose with Spaulding Memorial School’s new book vending machine. Not pictured: School Council members Michelle Hannon, Jenn Pisani, and Jessie Brothers. (Photo Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District). 
Principal Kate Guziejka, left, receives a donation of E.B. White novels from Lindsay Morand, the grand-niece of E.B. White. (Photo Courtesy North Middlesex Regional School District).
TOWNSEND — Superintendent Brad Morgan and Principal Kate Guziejka are pleased to share that Spaulding Memorial School unveiled a book vending machine available for student use.
Members of the School Council — Jennifer Pisani, Jeanne McCutcheon, Santia Ringer, Michelle Hannon, Jessie Brothers, Ashley Rollins, Kristen Fearon and Stephanie Thompson — led the initiative. The Council organized fundraisers over two years to purchase the machine.
The new vending machine, which was unveiled on May 17, gives students in Grades K-4 access to classic books across literacy levels. Notable titles include “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”
Lindsay Morand of Townsend donated copies of “Charlotte’s Web,” “Stuart Little” and other novels by author E.B. White, who is her great-uncle.
Students are recognized by their teachers for making choices that help them “be the best they can be” and that may look different for each child.
The vending machine was purchased through Bookworm Vending Machine. The company has helped over 8,500 schools integrate book vending machines into their literacy programs nationwide, assisting about 3.2 million students each year.
“One of our goals is to foster a love for literacy and reading at Spaulding, and we decided to connect that with encouraging students to make choices that help them to be successful. It is incredibly important that our students obtain foundational literacy skills at an early age,” said Principal Guziejka. “The vending machine will be a new and interactive way for students to access books and develop a lifelong curiosity.”
“The vending machine will be a valuable resource for our students for years to come,” said Superintendent Morgan. “Thank you to the School Council for taking on this initiative, and to our school community for strongly supporting it.”