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Nancy Bruneel Literacy Night
Sunrise Elementary hosted a literacy night earlier this month to celebrate Nancy Bruneel, a reading specialist and dear colleague who passed away last fall. Nancy was a beloved staff member amongst her colleagues and students. According to teacher Kathy Kestle, "Nancy brought joy with a capital J to her work and to our community, so much that joy is part of our mission statement at Sunrise." The staff at Sunrise decided the best way to honor her work and legacy was with a literacy night event that Nancy had been planning for three years. According to Principal Katharine Geiss, the first literacy night was organized by Nancy and scheduled for March 2020, but then the pandemic happened. That didn't stop Nancy, though. She still planned and prepared to host the best literacy night for Sunrise's students and families once we returned. Unfortunately, she could not see it through, but her colleagues did.
This event was intended for fun, just like Nancy. Multiple stations of games and crafts centered around literacy and read-alouds by parents and teachers in various languages. Students also received a book to take home as well. The evening ended with a giant dance party, just like Nancy would do with her reading groups on Fridays. The staff also incorporated her favorite color into the event and covered all the tables with pink tablecloths. Nancy's impact on the students and staff of Sunrise was evident throughout this event. Her love of reading was seen through the students' eagerness at each station, her passion for students was reflected in the staff and volunteers, and her joyful spirit was felt through everyone's smiling faces.
Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your heart and joy with so many and leaving a lasting impact.
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