The 2017 Community-Wide Summer Reading theme is “Build a Better World.” The Attleboro Public Library, along with our partners; the Attleboro Public Schools, the Attleboro YMCA and the Attleboro Recreation Department, came together at the Balfour Riverwalk Park on June 21 to host a kick-off event for over 200 students and their families. One of the activities at the kick-off was a giant puzzle.
While coordinating the kick-off, Donna Goldstein; K-12 Humanities Coordinator for Attleboro Public Schools, approached Eileen Homen; the director of the carpentry division of the Career and Technical Education program at Attleboro High School, to talk about a possible project for the carpentry students. Eileen agreed that to involve her students and over time they designed, created and cut a 24 piece puzzle, each of the pieces measuring approximately 2ft x 2ft.
Once the puzzle was created, Donna approached Sue Casey; the Art Coordinator for Attleboro Public Schools and Art Teacher, to see if Sue would be willing to get involved. Sue immediately agreed and gathered some of her art students from Coelho Middle School to help paint the puzzle.
The result was extremely popular at the June 21 kick-off. Over and over again, children of all ages worked together to complete the puzzle and then point out different countries. Building, cooperation, appreciating other people’s skill sets and the world are some of the themes “Build a Better World” encompasses. The puzzle is a physical representation of these themes.
Pieces of the puzzle will be distributed throughout Attleboro at community agencies for the public to see. As of July 3, you can find a piece at Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, The Literacy Center, ABACUS County Street location, Project Connect Family Center and the Attleboro Public Library. More pieces will be popping up at other agencies, so keep an eye out!
