By Elizabeth Goldman
Staff Writer
With virtual learning limiting the amount of exercise kids are getting, the need for fun ways to stay active is becoming evident. Junior Dom Doumeng has created a storywalk around Meadows Elementary, providing an engaging way for students to stay active while reading.
Doumeng’s storywalk is modeled off of Robinson Elementary School’s storywalk that was created by Co-PTSA President Yea-Lan Chiang. It is a series of posters around the school, each showing two pages of an elementary-level picture book. Each month, starting Jan. 7, Doumeng spends time laminating the pages of the chosen book, applying them to the signs and putting them up around the school.
“I have really been enjoying helping out little kids during this time since I know it’s really hard for them,” Doumeng said. “I saw that Robinson was doing it, and I thought it would be a good idea to bring it to [Meadows Elementary].”
After getting the idea approved by the Meadows Parent-Teacher Association, Manhattan Beach Unified School District office and Principal Michelle Krzmarziick, Doumeng worked with Meadows librarian Christine Primm to choose the first book. They selected “If You Give a Pig a Party” by Laura Numeroff, Doumeng’s favorite childhood book. Currently, “This Moose Belongs to Me” by Oliver Jeffers is being displayed at Meadows.
“Creating the signs can be hard at times because the adhesive likes to be difficult, and the double-sided pages can get confusing, ” Doumeng said.
“I have to purchase two books and then use a third book for reference, but overall, it is pretty fun, and I know the outcome will always be awesome!” Doumeng said.
Doumeng has received positive feedback from parents saying that it has been an amazing way to get kids out to exercise and read at the same time. Both students and parents have enjoyed this new attraction on their walks around the neighborhood, says Doumeng.
“[The day] we put it up, there were already little kids going for a walk and looking at it,” Doumeng said. “Every time I drive by, I see little kids going around and running to each sign. It’s so cute”
Being able to make an impact on the community through something as small as setting up a storywalk around an elementary school is a great feeling, according to Doumeng. Additionally, watching kids engage with the storywalk in the positive way they have is extremely rewarding.
“[My favorite part is] definitely seeing the kids enjoying it and seeing that what I did is bringing joy to people,” Doumeng said. “It’s a really good feeling [knowing] that I’m able to do something so simple yet so effective. It’s just been great.”
Although the storywalk was created specifically for the needs of virtual learning, if it is successful, Doumeng will consider continuing it next year. While the process of setting up the posters each month is time consuming, it’s manageable and provides students with a fun way to be active.
“I would love to [continue it next year]. I’m enjoying it, and it’s usually up for one to two weeks, so it’s not too hard of a task,” Doumeng said.
While it is hard to know what it’s like to be a kid during COVID-19 pandemic, having something fun like this definitely improves the experience, says Doumeng.
“I always loved reading. I used to love these books. Little picture books are the cutest things to me,” Doumeng said.
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