The Frontier Central Teachers’ Association brought the community together on a beautiful fall morning at the Frontier Middle School for its annual "Fall into Reading" festival.

Originally launched five years ago to reconnect families in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has grown into a cherished district tradition. Supported by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the nonprofit organization First Book, this year’s festival successfully placed 5,000 free books directly into the hands of local children.

"We know research shows that if you have more books in homes, you will have higher literacy rates," said Amber Chandler, president of the Frontier Central Teachers’ Association. "What we do in those first five years is really critical, so we want to make sure people have books in their homes."

The event featured a massive layout of activities, offering a little bit of everything for local families. Local PTAs set up booths alongside student musicians who filled the hallways with music, while the district's Farm to School program was stationed right around the corner with a giant agricultural exhibit featuring a live baby rabbit. The activities spanned across the school, leading into the main cafeteria where the 5,000 free books were distributed.

For the local educators organizing the event, the festival serves a deeper purpose: fostering a lifelong love for books.

"Part of building literacy is pulling families in in a really safe way where we're not lecturing anyone, but we're giving away books and making sure they have them in their homes," Chandler explained. "It's an opportunity for me as an educator to see my students outside the classroom and show them that reading can be part of a lifestyle, and not just something that stays within our school walls."

A variety of community partners joined the festivities, including the Buffalo Zoo, the Buffalo Historical Society, Hawk Creek Wildlife, and the Erie County Sheriffs and Emergency Response teams. Families also enjoyed face painting, coloring stations, and interactive booths hosted by school clubs.

Chandler noted that the gathering captured a rare, nostalgic energy that allowed children to step away from digital devices.

"It’s fun because you walk around and there's not a screen in sight," Chandler said. "It’s like the most wholesome event because everybody is coloring. You’ll be surprised to see that people are really just out doing things. It feels like 1990, where you would have an event like this and families like this."

The successful morning was made possible through the joint sponsorship of the Frontier Central Teachers' Association, Reading Opens the World, the Erie 1 Professional Education Association, and the Frontier Central School District.

Watch our video here: 🎥Fall Into Reading