We are launching a brand-new series on the Inspiring Viking Values podcast—Book Talks! Each installment centers on student voice, authentic literature-circle discussion, and the joy of reading for understanding.

Special Guests:

• Mrs. Stephanie Anderson (Principal)
• Mrs. Janet Balk (Librarian)

We are so excited to have 8 students joining us today.

Kindergarten

• Gabby
• George
• Malakai
• Cillian

1st Grade

• Melanie
• Athena
• Ella
• Easton

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
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We are launching a brand-new series on the Inspiring Viking Values podcast—Book Talks! Each installment centers on student voice, authentic literature-circle discussion, and the joy of reading for understanding.

Special Guests:

• Mr. David Howe (Principal)
• Mrs. Stephanie Pritchard (Librarian)
• Dylan Nowak, grade 2. She is currently reading Wings of Fire.
• Emilia Hassler, grade 3. She is currently reading The Twits by Roald Dahl.
• Bobby Donnelly, grade 4. He is re-reading Sign of the Beaver.
• Benny Carpenter, grade 5. He is reading Pride and Prejudice.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT

We are launching a brand-new series on the Inspiring Viking Values podcast—Book Talks! Each installment centers on student voice, authentic literature-circle discussion, and the joy of reading for understanding.

In this episode we are featuring the librarian and four students at Huth Rd Eelementary School.

Special Guests

Principal, Max Pikula, Librarian, Freda Orosz, and students Hannah, Louise, Michael, Lincoln, and Astrid.

This episode reminds us that students are not passive readers. They analyze motives, weigh ethical dilemmas, draw parallels to their world, and let literature sharpen who they’re becoming. Book Talks is not just about reading it’s about voice, identity, and discovering the agency to make meaning.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT

Today on our podcast we are recording a podcast with Mrs. Amy Boutet, our HS Musical Director. We are very excited about this podcast episode as we will be previewing the musical with some of our students representing the stage crew, the Pit and our actors.

Amy Boutet - Teacher - Musical Director) Jaymee Gray (Stage Manager), Nick Jayme (Seymour), Claire Neuhaus (Audrey) and Lily Buckingham (Pit).

CLICK HERE to buy tickets.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT

Today we’re launching a brand-new series on the Inspiring Viking Values podcast—Book Talks! Each installment centers on student voice, authentic literature-circle discussion, and the joy of reading for understanding.

Our first book spotlights The Hunger Games, the opening novel of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy and a story that continues to resonate with young readers more than fifteen years after publication. Students examine how characters make choices, resist systems, navigate loyalty, and find personal agency inside a world designed to limit it.

Featuring: Dr. Felicia Pallaci - Principal, Lauren Moelbert - VCMS Librarian, Julia Benjamin - 8th grade, Adaira Manzi - 7th grade, EJ Nowak - 6th grade.

This episode reminds us that students are not passive readers. They analyze motives, weigh ethical dilemmas, draw parallels to their world, and let literature sharpen who they’re becoming. Book Talks is not just about reading it’s about voice, identity, and discovering the agency to make meaning.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT

Joining us on the podcast were the Huth Road Elementary principal, Maxwell Pikula, and four third grade students, Isaac Covell, Spencer Sheehan, Emilia Golba, and Joise Dalbo. In this episode they spoke about the October Viking Cares initiatve and how every student at Huth did something special for the community.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT

Joining us on the podcast were the Sidway principal, Stephanie Anderson, two teachers Lauren Brock and Lindsey Brzozowski and two students, Ezra Golba and Alexander Buccini. In this episode they spoke about the October Viking Cares initiatve and how every student at Sidway did something special for the community.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT

Today on our podcast, we are doing a deep dive on the Senior Day of Caring, which is part of our district’s October Viking Cares Initiative—a month where every student in the Grand Island Central School District participates in some type of service learning.

Today we explore how Grand Island High School seniors made a difference across the community by volunteering at the Golden Age Center, Sidway Primary School, the Grand Island Fire Department, the Bell Center, and the Sheridan Park Life Center. Our seniors also made special gifts for pets and interacted with therapy dogs. Today we are also sitting down with, principal Hillary Kretz-Harvey, assistant principal, Jaime Peld, math teacher Caitlin O’Rourke, and 3 of our high school students….Ismail Masoodi, Sarah Logar, and Jaymee Gray.

https://www.grandislandschools.org/
Twitter - @GrandIsland CSD
Instagram - @GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT
Facebook - GRANDISLANDSCHOOLDISTRICT