Meet New Friends, Share New Stories

A new chapter in learning is unfolding across the agency with the launch of the Speech Department’s Book Buddy Club — a program that brings students together through shared reading.

While many people think of reading as a solo activity, students in the Book Buddy Club are discovering just how exciting it can be to read with a partner. Reading together helps students learn new words, understand stories better, and even spark a greater love for books. As they read alongside their peers and discuss the stories, students are strengthening their reading skills, sharing laughs and ideas, and forming new friendships.

An early highlight was a recent collaboration between Masera Middle School and Sayville Elementary School. Students came together to share a book and complete a literacy-based activity, giving them the chance to meet new peers and build connections beyond their own school.

“The Book Buddy Club is a collaborative and inclusive peer reading program designed to connect students across our schools,” said MaryKate Henry, Speech Department Lead. “It builds communication skills, relationships, and a love for reading.”

Open to all ESBOCES schools, the new Book Buddy Club is creating confidence, curiosity, and community — one story at a time.