Railroad Museum donates to GISD's Book Bus

Pictured: Jennifer Kelso, Marketing Director for Galveston Railroad Museum, Dr. Stephen Duncan, GISD Director of Fine Arts and Railroad Museum Board Member, Elizabeth Bennett, GISD District Coordinator of Academic Programs and Student Outcomes, and Dr. Annette Scott, GISD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction)

The Galveston Railroad Museum donated railroad themed books to the Galveston ISD Book Bus. Some of the favorites included were Orphan Train: A Novel, The Railway Children, Murder on the Orient Express, The Little Engine That Could, The Polar Express, and sets of the Boxcar Children and Thomas the Train. The books spanned various age ranges and interests. In total, over 50 books were donated. We hope to see a whole new generation of railroad fans!

The GISD Book Bus is a collaboration of the Galveston Independent School District (GISD) and the Galveston ISD Educational Foundation (GEF). GISD is committed to an initiative entitled “Ready, Set, Read Above” for all elementary school students in the district. The goal of this initiative is to ensure all students are reading on or above grade level by the end of third grade. One of the barriers currently inhibiting the district’s success at reaching this goal is the progress that is lost over the summer when students, particularly economically disadvantaged students, do not have access to their classroom and campus libraries. The Book Bus is a mobile library that offers the solution of bringing the library to students where they are: their neighborhoods. The Book Bus will operate in the same capacity as a school library. However, it will serve all students in Galveston, Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, regardless of where they are enrolled in school.

The Railroad Museum loves to support children's education and engagement, particularly when coupled with railroad and transportation interests. Happy Reading!