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Reed Elementary Unveils Book Vending Machine
At Reed Elementary School, birthdays just got a whole lot sweeter and more literary.
On the morning of Friday, August 28, the school community gathered both in person and virtually via a building-wide livestream for the official "Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening" of Reed's new Book Vending Machine. The initiative, spearheaded by librarian Emily Gillett, represents the culmination of a three-year fundraising and planning effort designed to elevate the school's vibrant reading culture.
"Fostering a genuine, lifelong love for literacy begins with creating magical, memorable experiences around books," said Gillett. "This project was three years in the making, and seeing the pure excitement on our students' faces as they selected their birthday books makes every ounce of effort worth it."
Under the new initiative, every Reed Elementary student receives a custom golden token on their birthday, granting them access to the vending machine to select a brand-new book of their choice to keep.
Joining in the inaugural celebration were Superintendent Dr. Geoff Macy, Reed Elementary Principal Dr. Chris Schreiner, and five student trailblazers whose birthdays fell during the first week of school:
- Leah Siegel (Kindergarten)
- Maya Fisher (Kindergarten)
- Rowan Schaffrin (2nd Grade)
- Leland Campbell (2nd Grade)
- Kathleen Hermann (3rd Grade)
These five students made history as the first Reed Book Vending Machine shoppers to insert their golden tokens, make their selections, and take home a new story to celebrate their special day.
"We are an inclusive community at Reed. Every student will have the opportunity to use our book vending machine. If a student’s birthday falls on a weekend, a holiday, or a school break, we will arrange an alternative day for the celebration. Our goal is to ensure that every student is celebrated and has the chance to choose from our Birthday Book Vending Machine," Gillett said.
Dr. Schreiner shared how the project highlights the collaborative spirit of the Reed Elementary community.
“After Mrs. Gillett’s three years of planning and working with our families, I am grateful to see that the dedication ensured the vision for this project, which became a reality today for current students and for future generations of Reed readers,” Dr. Schreiner added.
During the event, Dr. Macy and Dr. Schreiner held the ribbon while Mrs. Gillett cut it, and students looked on eagerly, awaiting the chance to use the book vending machine for the first time.
"The energy and excitement inside Reed Elementary today were remarkable," said Superintendent Dr. Macy. "Combining student celebrations with a passion for literacy is a brilliant, novel concept. Fostering a love for reading is foundational to everything we do in Ladue Schools, and starting the school year by celebrating our students in such a joyful, inclusive way sets a wonderful tone across the community."
