It is officially the "Year of the Goose" here at Chapel Hill Elementary! This fall, we welcomed a very special new addition to our school family: Cardi Beak, our official Library Goose. Our students and staff had the best time participating in a school-wide election to choose her name, and the result was a punny masterpiece. While our students love the pop-culture flair, us teachers appreciate the clever nod to the library cards and card catalogs of our past. You can find her perched proudly on Mrs. Sheldon’s stage, where she has the best seat in the house to hear every single read-aloud story shared with our eager learners. "Cardi is the perfect listener," Mrs. Sheldon noted. "Since she arrived, students are racing to the media center just to see her—and once they’re through the doors, they’re picking up more books than ever before, especially if the story involves a feathered friend! I am always searching for ways to keep the media center relevant and fresh. I want students and staff to come and find the perfect book. Cardi has helped build excitement around the media center and further my motto that readers are leaders."
Cardi has truly brought our building together in a way we never expected; she is quite literally part of our fabric now. It is a joy to see students’ faces light up when they spot her, and honestly, the teachers love her just as much! She has quickly become our most dedicated staff member when it comes to school spirit, never missing a dress-up day or a special event. Her legendary wardrobe is a true community effort; students take turns carefully dressing her, and teachers are always on the lookout for new outfits for her while they are out and about. Her influence has even sparked the creativity of our older students, such as the 4th grader who used molding clay and Hot Wheels to craft their very own custom "Cardi" figurine.
Principal Turner shared, "Cardi has become a symbol of our school culture. She reminds us every day that readers are leaders, and she’s helping us build that leadership one chapter at a time." Third-grade teacher Dr. Erica Dixon added, "She’s the first thing my kids talk about in the morning. She makes the library feel like the heart of the school, drawing extra attention to our collection every single day." While the whole school claims her, Cardi has a very special home in Ms. Peppers’ kindergarten class. She has been a quiet, supportive friend to our littlest learners as they navigate their first year of school. "My students feel so much more confident reading when Cardi is 'listening' to them," said Ms. Jillisa Peppers. "She’s part of the class, plain and simple." In fact, she’s such a big part of the group that she did something extra special this May: Cardi will officially walked with her kindergarten friends during their graduation ceremony. We are so proud of the spirit she brings to our halls, and we can’t wait to see what "outfit" she debuts next!