![A group of Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School students hold up books.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1651091386/santacatalina/xggibgwpn27stxjnqb0f/Grade5books.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1651091386/santacatalina/xggibgwpn27stxjnqb0f/Grade5books.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1651091386/santacatalina/xggibgwpn27stxjnqb0f/Grade5books.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1651091386/santacatalina/xggibgwpn27stxjnqb0f/Grade5books.jpg","width":1200}])
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School fifth-graders collected over 400 books for an organization in Belize that encourages a love of reading among children and teens.
For their Project of Passion, the students donated the books to Tek Time fi Read, which means “Take Time to Read” in Belizean Kriol. The group donates thousands of books to schools and programs across the country, creates literacy events that encourage reading, and raises awareness about the importance of reading.
The class got connected to the group through co-teacher Brenda Bhaskar, whose husband is an oral surgeon who has traveled to Brazil to do free dental clinics for children. The dentists will often bring supplies for the children when they go, and books are highly requested.
Teacher Bri Slama ’07 said, Mrs. Bhaskar and I were overwhelmed with the amount of books our students brought in."
![Overhead shot of a Santa Catalina student drawing a graph with a ruler.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1712097090/santacatalina/mgowk4xlicekjjttdd1b/Mathcounts2024.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1712097090/santacatalina/mgowk4xlicekjjttdd1b/Mathcounts2024.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1712097090/santacatalina/mgowk4xlicekjjttdd1b/Mathcounts2024.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712097090/santacatalina/mgowk4xlicekjjttdd1b/Mathcounts2024.jpg","width":1200}])
![A Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School student stands behind a table of greeting cards.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1712159452/santacatalina/znqyoz3ttt2eapzhimpa/MiniCity2024.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1712159452/santacatalina/znqyoz3ttt2eapzhimpa/MiniCity2024.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1712159452/santacatalina/znqyoz3ttt2eapzhimpa/MiniCity2024.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712159452/santacatalina/znqyoz3ttt2eapzhimpa/MiniCity2024.jpg","width":1200}])
![Student readers pose with their certificates.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710275545/santacatalina/cyeoi01qwcd9zqrd6fqy/MSReadingChallenge.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710275545/santacatalina/cyeoi01qwcd9zqrd6fqy/MSReadingChallenge.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710275545/santacatalina/cyeoi01qwcd9zqrd6fqy/MSReadingChallenge.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710275545/santacatalina/cyeoi01qwcd9zqrd6fqy/MSReadingChallenge.jpg","width":1200}])