Weymouth Teacher Delivers Books To Students

WEYMOUTH, MA —While schools may be closed through the end of the academic year due to the new coronavirus health emergency, the learning has not stopped in Weymouth.

Neither has the caring from the Weymouth Public Schools staff.

One teacher among those going above and beyond the call of remote learning in recent weeks is Abigail Adams Middle School Literature Cafe teacher Katie McCue-Day, who has dropped off more than a dozen books to students at their homes since the school closings. This week, McCue-Day dropped off "Friends or Fiction" and "Sticks & Stones" by author Abby Cooper.

Cooper was supposed to visit McCue-Day's class in person this spring, but when school buildings were closed, McCue-Day was able to secure some signed copies from the Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham and deliver them to students.

"A highlight of dropping off the books to my students is getting the chance to see them again," said McCue-Day. "Some kids and their parents have come outside to chat from a safe distance. It's been great to have the chance to talk to people outside of our families during these difficult times while supporting the student’s reading habits."

Weymouth Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Curtis-Whipple said the majority of the books McCue-Day has delivered have been new releases she's been buying herself to support authors and independent bookstores during this uncertain time for the book industry. She has also received books from online giveaways, and an author who donated books after seeing her book delivery initiative on social media.

McCue-Day has worked in the Weymouth Public School District for 23 years.

"I was inspired to create the Literature Cafe due to my love for middle grade books," she said. "In my classroom, students have the opportunity to read whatever interests them, which results in an increase in children wanting to read. Since the school closure began, I’ve kept in contact with my students by discussing their current reads and by providing enrichment activities for them."

McCue-Day plans on delivering books to students’ homes for the rest of the school year.