Dubbed "Family Finale Night," the evening gave parents, teachers and students a chance to discuss the novel "Wonder," by R.J. Palacio. The subject of the book is Auggie Pullman, who has a rare facial deformity and is at first homeschooled by his mother, but then enrolled in a private school where he begins to make friends despite his physical differences.
Palacio was inspired to write the book, which went on to win several awards, after her toddler aged son started crying when he saw a young girl with a facial deformity. She hoped to use her own experience to teach a valuable lesson.
The middle school could have used poster printing to get ready for the Family Finale night, which featured a number of special activities that centered on the novel. There was a poster contest, a chance for students to write letters to a young man with similar facial deformities, and discussions of the novel's characters.
According to Donna White, a teacher at the school and an organizer of the event:
“Our hope was to plant the seed of family reading and initiate conversations at home. We want students to embrace the message inspired by Auggie Pullman that when given the choice of being right or being kind, choose kind.”