By John Howell

A book fair hosted by Como Elementary School Monday night for students and parents also gave parents and grandparents opportunity to confer with teachers.

Teachers spread colorful learning displays and teaching aids on cafeteria tables for book fair visitors. A book display on wheels from Scholastic publications had been rolled onto the floor and unfolded to offer shelves of age-appropriate, brightly-covered books, posters, CDs and videos for sale to students.

School librarian Rachel Williams welcomed the students, parents and guests. She encouraged students to get punched cards given to them by parent liaison Ruby Callicutt when she had met them at the door. Cards would be punched at each teacher station, Williams said. “The students get credit,” she said.

The book fair included brief remarks Karen Ott Mayer, who described the Christmas in Como activities planned for Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5. and invited attendance. Mayer encouraged  participation in the children’s art contest which is offered as part of the Como Christmas celebration.

Como Holy Innocents Episcopal Church priest Sam Godfrey invited book fair participants and school staff to a community Thanksgiving service Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.

First Regional Library Director Catherine Nathan asked for show of hands from students who had library cards.

“How many of you have homework?” Nathan asked as a followup question, leading her to a description of the free online help for students from the First Regional system.

Nathan was accompanied by First Regional Youth Services Coordinator Judy Card, who works with school systems to help them take advantage of library services available to their students, and by Como librarian Alice Pierotti, who coordinates with teachers through the local facility.

As students, parents and grandparents moved from table to table talking with teachers, a fifth grade teacher was overheard telling a grandmother, “She comes up after class sometimes and asks me about the assignment because she wasn’t paying attention.” The granddaughter under discussion squirmed noticeably at that portion of the candid appraisal of her classroom performance which had also included the teacher’s considerable praise.