• Magnolia Joyce and Alivia Martin were the first students to choose books from the new book vending machine at Highbridge Hill Elementary School. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
    Magnolia Joyce and Alivia Martin were the first students to choose books from the new book vending machine at Highbridge Hill Elementary School. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff Credit: ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
  • Magnolia Joyce selects her book from the vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
    Magnolia Joyce selects her book from the vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff Credit: ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
  • Alivia Martin chooses her first book from the vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
    Alivia Martin chooses her first book from the vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff Credit: ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
  • Superintendent Liz Pogorzelski, students Magnolia Joyce and Alivia Martin, and Principal Chris Saunders cut the ribbon christening the new book vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
    Superintendent Liz Pogorzelski, students Magnolia Joyce and Alivia Martin, and Principal Chris Saunders cut the ribbon christening the new book vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff Credit: ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
  • Students Magnolia Joyce and Alivia Martin, and Principal Chris Saunders cut the ribbon christening the new book vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff
    Students Magnolia Joyce and Alivia Martin, and Principal Chris Saunders cut the ribbon christening the new book vending machine. ASHLEY SAARI/Staff Credit: ASHLEY SAARI/Staff

Friday afternoon, two Highbridge Hill Elementary School students got the honor of cutting the ribbon on a new book vending machine in the school lobby, and being the first to use it, each selecting a book in honor of their birthday.

Highbridge Hill Principal Chris Saunders said the vending machine, built by Inchy’s Bookworm Vending, was installed the day before the start of school and has been one of the things he’s been most excited about in the lead-up to the start of school.

“This is what I’ve been most excited about all summer,” Saunders said. “A number of teachers have said that they can’t help but smile when they walk by it.”

The vending machine was purchased with grant funding that was given to the district to help improve student outcomes after Highbridge Hill was identified as a school in need of improvement last year. While most of the funds were aimed at improving student outcomes and test scores, a portion could be used for community outreach, which Saunders said the vending machine will be.

He said to improve literacy and get children excited about books and reading, the school has added the vending machine, a new full-time librarian position and a weekly library utility block. It is also bringing back Scholastic Book Fairs.

“We are putting a conscious effort into access to books — putting them in kids’ hands. We want them to have access to books and to be excited about reading, excited to have multiple options.”

The vending machine operates on special tokens, which will be given out to students on their birthdays and when they make special achievements, Saunders said. The machine will be restocked using credits earned by students’ purchases during the Scholastic Book Fairs.

“I feel like the novelty of the machine makes that particular book special,” Saunders said. “It’s a prize, but it’s a prize that supports our mission of teaching and learning. We want it to be a special book, that’s theirs, and hope that one book will lead to a second and a third and a fourth.”

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.