FARMINGTON – After 16 years of mushing young students towards reading more, Mallett School’s librarian Betsy Turcotte successfully finished her last race this morning.
It’s her last Iditaread race because Turcotte, of New Vineyard, will be retiring at the end of this school year after 17 years as Mallett School’s librarian.
At an assembly Monday morning, Turcotte congratulated the 300 readers who participated in the school’s 16th annual Iditaread. Inspired by the Iditarod, the 1,000-mile race across the tundra to the finish line in Nome, Alaska, Turcotte’s Iditaread keeps the school’s first through third-grade students on the trail reading at home while the dog sled teams race across Alaska.
To race in the Iditaread, first graders keep a record of the books they’ve read and second and third graders record the number of minutes spent reading a book at home. When the number of books or minutes reading – 20 minutes for second graders and 30 minutes for third graders – is reached and a note signed by a parent is turned in and one stride is awarded. Once a team has reached a total number of strides equal to the number of members on a team, they can advance to the next checkpoint.
When everything was tallied up, Turcotte announced that the 300 participating readers finished nearly 3,000 books and read for a total of 27,000 minutes.
After 25 checkpoints, it was Craig Cahall’s third-grade team of readers that reached Nome first in 9 days, 2 hours and 17 minutes. In this year’s Iditarod, Dallas Seavey’s team had the record-breaking fastest time of 8 days, 13 hours, 4 minutes, and 19 seconds.
At the school’s finish line, several awards that included hats and fluffy toy huskies were given to the “lead dogs,” for those with the best team spirit, as family members attending the assembly applauded.
Turcotte created the event in her second year at Mallett after a brainstorming session with Lynne Hunter, who now works at Wilton’s library. In the “On your mark” week, held before the Iditarod starts, students learn about the history of the event in Alaska and how to participate in Farmington’s Iditaread.
Some Iditaread race tweaking is added, such as a big storm hitting and a 24-hour mandatory rest is ordered for a team pushing too hard on the trail. The event has proved popular,” Turcotte said after the assembly. Besides holding an event that celebrates reading, “it’s a great opportunity for teamwork,” she said.
This woman is amazing! She has sparked in the young a love for books and for reading them. She has made so many programs and activities available to enjoy over the years. I am blessed to know her but even more so that she is a friend. I am so thankful that my kids had her as their librarian. Good luck to you Mrs. Turcotte. You are a true treasure in our district! Thank you for all your hard work over the years! God Bless
There are not adequate words to express the gratitude I feel for having Betsy be part of all 3 of my children’s lives. Her enthusiasm and love for reading is still present in my now teenage children’s love of books. Thank you Betsy for the gifts you have given to countless children over the years..if you read it, you can dream it, if you dream it you can live it!!!
Since the day I met her, I’ve tried to be more like Betsy Turcotte. She is kind, calm, inspiring, encouraging, engaging, and (ditto, Danielle) AMAZING!!! The community has been so fortunate to benefit from Betsy’s time and talents over the last 16 years, and she will be dearly missed in the program. What a blessing when someone fits so perfectly in their position- great things happen. We love you, Betsy, and THANK YOU for always going above and beyond to inspire our young people to go after their goals.
What a great program. Both of my children loved the Iditaread when they were students at Mallett. We all love Betsy’s positive energy and the love she has for all of the kids. Congratulations on your retirement, Betsy!
Betsy is a treasure! I feel privileged to have worked with her. She has such enthusiasm for children’s learning and supporting the growth of individuals, adults as well as children. She will be greatly missed. But I do feel excited that she may become more available for tea and book talks. Well done, Special Lady! Hugs!
Betsy, congratulation on helping so many children become readers and winners! Your enthusiasm has encouraged kids to expand their understanding of ideas, the world and the themselves. You are a treasure to our community. Thank you and Best Wishes in you future Adventures.
It’s hard to imagine the Mallett School without the inimitable Mrs. Turcotte. Always a smile for the kids, staying late for PTA meetings, and forever happy to encourage our daughters’ love of books, Betsy is such a wonderful school librarian. We saw huge jumps in our girls’ reading abilities each year following the Iditaread. How many hundreds of children did Betsy share her love of books with during her tenure? What an admirable legacy. Cheers, Betsy on a job well done!
17 years of very lucky kids! Happy Retirement, Betsy!
Betsy had done so much for so many. Her legacy will live on just as any great story does in the thoughts and hearts of those that experience it.
Thanks, Betsy, for your years of creative service to our community’s children. Enjoy your retirement!
Oh my gosh. I am going to miss you. You are such a wonderful person and teacher!!