Class of 2017 Lends a Hand Through the Breakthrough Book Drive

Breakthrough New Orleans (BTNOLA), part of the national Breakthrough Collaborative, is a program hosted by Newman designed to help at-risk middle school students with limited resources prepare for high school throughout the school year and summer. The kids are at the top of their class, but have limited access to the learning tools Newman students have grown accustomed to. They attend classes throughout the school year, as well as a summer program taught by volunteer high school and college students, many from Newman. Recently, the Newman student body mobilized to help the Breakthrough program through a book drive.

The Class of 2017, after building and painting a brand-new bookshelf, is asking for Newman students to donate their favorite middle school or 9th grade-level books through the end of the school year, which they will then give to BTNOLA. Srijan Duggal ’17 made the bookshelf by himself, which his entire grade then helped paint as part of their service learning project. They covered the bookshelf in their handprints to reflect their act of handing over the future library.

The book drive is designed to give the students participating in BTNOLA a way to enjoy something new and take a break from the assigned reading materials, with the purpose of increasing literacy. While the Class of 2017 typically holds an annual carnival for the Breakthrough students after their final exams, they wanted to make a larger impact by starting a library of books they enjoyed reading. Not only is reading fun and educational, but it also allows the Newman students to bond with Breakthrough students by sharing something they both love.

Christy Mo ’17, an active member of BTNOLA, says the library is designed to be “something that lasts and can be shared from person to person. Books are stories and experiences that can be passed around the community and from generation to generation.”

The class believes that the book drive is a great way for Newman students who are not members of BTNOLA to get involved in the program and take an active role in helping others. Since Newman and Breakthrough are so closely tied, this is a way for Newman students to share their favorite childhood story with other middle school students, while encouraging them to have fun learning. “The idea to give back,” says BTNOLA Director Robyn McCormick, “the same love of reading and learning that Newman students have.”

Students, parents, faculty, and staff are encouraged to donate books by bringing them to the bins outside of the Upper School Office from now until the end of the school year.