Interact Students Help Make 2025 Peshastin-Dryden Elementary Book Fair a Success

: Peshastin-Dryden Elementary students explore the world through reading in an African-themed room while listening to a story read by local librarians. Photo credit: Parker Hollatz (12) 

For the second year in a row, Cascade High School’s Interact Club showed up en masse to support the Peshastin-Dryden Elementary (PD) Book Fair, held on Tuesday, November 4th. This annual event invites students and families from both Peshastin-Dryden and Alpine Lakes Elementary schools to celebrate reading and creativity. Organized by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), this year’s theme was “Reading Around the World.” 

The event transformed the entire school into a global learning adventure. Country-themed rooms included Russian, African, and American rooms, alongside an African mask painting room, an origami room, a book organizing and cultures room, a dining room, and the book fair itself. Proceeds from the fair benefited both PD and Alpine Lakes Elementary schools. 

Students and families had the chance to explore each country-themed room while local librarians, including Friends of the Library and Leavenworth Librarian Hannah, read stories aloud. The interactive approach allowed children to engage with books and cultures in a hands-on, fun environment. 

The arts were also an important part of the event. In the origami room, students learned to fold paper into creative shapes, while the African mask painting room gave children a chance to design and decorate masks, which were later stapled and strung for display or take-home. 

Each student received a blank passport upon entering the school, which they could stamp at each activity room after completing the assigned project. Students who collected all stamps received a prize, encouraging participation in every activity. 

After traveling the world through reading and arts, attendees could enjoy a free dinner in the cafeteria, featuring pizza and salad for students, parents, staff, and volunteers. 

“We were serving pizza, and every time we served a kid, their faces just lit up. It made me really happy to see,” said Interact volunteer Stella Peterson (9). 

“We were serving pizza, and every time we served a kid, their faces just lit up. It made me really happy to see,” said Interact volunteer Stella Peterson (9). 

This year, over 15 Interact Club volunteers helped throughout the book fair—in the cafeteria, art rooms, and book fair area—demonstrating the strong commitment of CHS students to community service. Events like this also provide an opportunity for students to earn volunteer hours. 

“As a volunteer, the book fair was a lot of fun. The room I was in was very busy, making it a little stressful, but also very rewarding,” said Interact volunteer Ingrid Stockman (11).