The vending machine that is feeding young minds

By James Flecther

Pupils from the High Green Primary School discover the power of reading, as their new book vending machine is unveiled in a morning assembly.

The vending machine was donated to the school by Ecclesfield Parish Council and was unveiled by Reverend Tim Gill who serves the St Marys Church in Ecclesfield. He is also a prominent member of the charity that donated money to the school to buy the vending machine.

Revd Gill spoke to the children before the ribbon was cut and explained to the children the importance of reading. He also spoke of his love of books, and how this was a great idea before finally telling everyone how the charity was more than happy to donate the money by as he told the Look Local,

This is what the charity was set for; to bring education and help to any child during their academic career in any shape or form. It was an honour to cut the ribbon here today and to see the excitement from the children as they picked out their books.” Revd Tim Gill.

The contents of the vending machine were the result of the school’s STOF group which acts as the school’s PTA, who spent months organising fundraising events and used some of that money raised for books to be put in the machine ready for the big unveil this morning.

The company that refurbishes old vending machines were given the woodland design which coincides with what the school is all about and was part of a discussion the teachers had with the students, before finalising the design they could all agree on which was a scene from one of the UK’s favourite books, Julia Donaldson’s ‘Stickman’.

The company used a special wrapping technique to decorate the machine before sending it off ready for the big unveiling.

Lucy Harding the Deputy Headteacher and the head of the school’s English department, couldn’t believe the reaction from the children,

I am delighted that the children are so happy with our new book vending machine. It is so important that reading is high profile and children at our school enjoy reading, there was a real buzz around the school for reading. And our new vending machine has encouraged the love of reading even further.” Lucy Harding.

She continued to explain that before the big reveal, the children have been earning these raffle tickets from their class teachers and Mrs Harding then randomly picked out two boys and two girls to be given the chance to choose a book from the machine.

Mrs Harding also stated that this is not a library type of deal, the books the children choose will be theirs to keep and enjoy for an unlimited amount of time and other children will be given the chance to win books as they earn their place in the raffle throughout the school year.