What a wonderful morning for our North Augusta Elementary third-grade students! Today, our students had the opportunity to visit the Scholastic Book Fair and choose books of their very own through the Diana Floyd “My Own Book” Program.
The excitement was easy to see as students browsed the shelves, compared their choices, discovered new authors and series, and carefully decided which books they wanted to take home. From exciting adventures and favorite characters to nonfiction, mysteries, and more, every student in third-grade had the opportunity to choose books that matched their own interests.
And perhaps the best part of all? The books they selected were theirs to take home and keep!
📖 Putting Books Into the Hands—and Homes—of Children
The Diana Floyd “My Own Book” Program, made possible through Public Education Partners of Aiken County (PEP) and generous community sponsors, provides a $15 Book Fair voucher to each of the district's 1,742 third-grade students, allowing them to participate in their school's Book Fair and select books of their choice.
Now in its fourth year, the program has already placed an estimated 5,000+ books into student households while also increasing investment in school libraries.
This morning, we had the privilege of watching that mission come to life at North Augusta Elementary.
Our third graders didn't simply receive books—they had the experience of browsing, making their own choices, and proudly leaving the Book Fair as book owners!
💙 Celebrating the Legacy of Diana Floyd
The program is named in memory of Diana Floyd, a past Chairperson of Public Education Partners of Aiken County.
Her legacy continues through a program that places books directly into the hands and homes of young readers. Every book chosen this morning represents another opportunity for a child to read at home, explore a new interest, strengthen reading skills, and discover the joy that can come from finding just the right book.
🌟 Our Community Made This Morning Possible
An opportunity that reaches every third-grade student across the district would not be possible without the generosity of businesses, foundations, organizations, and individuals who believe in our young readers.
We are especially grateful to Meta, The Charitable Foundation of Aiken, Community Foundation of CSRA, and all of this year's generous sponsors whose support makes the Diana Floyd “My Own Book” Program possible.
Their generosity does so much more than purchase books. It creates excitement about reading, helps build home libraries, supports school libraries, gives children the power to choose what they want to read, and shows students that their community is invested in their success.
Our third graders will also have the opportunity to show their appreciation by writing thank-you letters to the sponsors who made today's experience possible.
🐬 So Many Books—and So Many Smiles!
One of the highlights of the morning was seeing our students proudly holding the books they selected.
Every student's choices were a little different, and that's part of what makes this program so meaningful. Every reader is different, and giving children a voice in what they read helps make reading personal and exciting.
We hope the books that left North Augusta Elementary this morning will be read again and again, shared with family members, recommended to friends, and become treasured additions to our students' home libraries.
💛 Thank You for Investing in Our Dolphins!
To Public Education Partners of Aiken County, the sponsors of the Diana Floyd “My Own Book” Program, and everyone who helped make this morning possible, we extend our heartfelt appreciation.
Because of your generosity, our third graders left the Book Fair today with more than books in their hands. They left with stories they chose, books they can call their own, and excitement about what they will read next.
From the students and teachers of North Augusta Elementary School, THANK YOU for investing in our young readers and helping us build a love of reading—one child and one book at a time! 📚💙🐬