Forget snacks: This school's vending machine gives out books

VERMILION — Students at Sailorway Middle School in Vermilion are being rewarded for positive behavior and academic effort in a new way: through books. A book vending machine is now in place at the school after being donated through community support. It allows students to earn tokens and exchange them for books they can keep. How the program works The machine is tied into the school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system. Basically, students can earn tokens from teachers for being respectful, responsible, safe and ready to learn. Those tokens can then be used in the vending machine where one token equals one book. Students also played a role in the rollout by helping choose some of the first books that could go into the machine with more titles expected to be added over time. Community partnership behind the project The project is part of a broader literacy effort supported by the Kiwanis Club of Vermilion, Grace United Methodist Church and the Sailorway parent-teacher organization: • Kiwanis has committed at least $1,000 annually toward purchasing books for the machine and has already provided $1,400 this year through club support and a donation designated for the project. • The parent-teacher organization has also donated $1,000 toward books for the machine. Amie Martin, president of the Kiwanis Club of Vermilion, and Jim Chapple, chair of Grace United Methodist Church's diversity committee, were both present during a recent visit to the school. While multiple partners helped bring the project to life, organizers kept the focus on the students and the opportunity to put more books in their hands. Recognizing student role models Two students — Aiden, a sixth-grader, and Mila, a fifth-grader — received recognition during the visit. Both students reflect the kind of values the program is meant to encourage, according to principal Wendy Callewaert. "Aiden is a hard worker in his classes," Callewaert said. "Mila is known by her friends as an avid reader." Callewaert said both are respectful, responsible students and strong role models for their peers. More planned beyond the school The book vending machine is just the beginning of Kiwanis' signature project, "Navigate Your Way Through Reading." Plans are also underway for a Little Free Library at Showse Park in collaboration with the Brownhelm Historical Association. Kiwanis also plans to add seating near the library so children and families can stop to read at the park or take books home. And Kiwanis leaders said the larger goal is to continue improving the lives of children in the Vermilion community. Between the new book vending machine and plans for a Little Free Library at Showse Park, the club's signature project is already moving from idea to action.