It is officially the "Year of the Goose" at Chapel Hill Elementary School. In the fall, the school family welcomed a very special addition: Cardi Beak, the new official Library Goose.
Students and staff had fun participating in a school-wide election to choose a name, and the result was a punny masterpiece. While the students love the pop-culture flair, the teachers appreciate the clever nod to the library cards and card catalogs of the past.
You will find Cardi Beak proudly perched on media specialist Cameron Sheldon’s stage, where she has the best seat in the house to hear every single read-aloud story shared with all the CHES eager learners.
"Cardi is the perfect listener," Sheldon noted. "Since she arrived, students are racing to the media center just to see her — and once they’re through the doors, they’re picking up more books than ever before, especially if the story involves a feathered friend!”
“I am always searching for ways to keep the media center relevant and fresh. I want students and staff to come and find the perfect book. Cardi has helped build excitement around the media center," Sheldon explained.
Cardi seems to have brought the school together in an expected way. “She is quite literally part of our fabric now. It is a joy to see students’ faces light up when they spot her, and honestly, the teachers love her just as much,” said Sheldon.
Cardi has quickly become the most dedicated staff member when it comes to school spirit, never missing a dress-up day or a special event. Her legendary wardrobe is a true community effort; students take turns carefully dressing her, and staff are always on the lookout for new outfits for her. Her influence has even sparked the creativity of the older students. One fourth grader used modeling clay and Hot Wheels to craft their very own custom Cardi figurine.
Principal Bianca Turner shared that Cardi has become a symbol of their school culture. “She reminds us every day that readers are leaders, and she’s helping us build that leadership one chapter at a time," Turner said.
Third-grade teacher Dr. Erica Dixon added, "She’s the first thing my kids talk about in the morning. She makes the library feel like the heart of the school."
While the whole school claims her, Cardi has a very special home in Jillisa Peppers’ kindergarten class. “She has been a quiet, supportive friend to our littlest learners as they navigate their first year of school. My students feel so much more confident reading when Cardi is 'listening' to them," Peppers said. "She’s part of the class, plain and simple."
According to Sheldon, Cardi is such a big part of the group that a plan has been made for her to walk with her kindergarten friends during their graduation ceremony. “We are so proud of the spirit she brings to our halls, and we can’t wait to see what outfit she debuts next!” she said.