Smiles Highlight Reading Time for NHA Author, IT Manager
NHA Communications TeamNHA Communications Team
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When Sarah McCormick enters a room to read to children, faces light up and she’s met with smiles. Some of it, admittedly, is due to her being dressed as her book character, Ollie the Owl, but she celebrates the joy it brings just the same.
McCormick, an IT Dynamics Business Analyst Manager at National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is also an author, who penned “Ollie the Owl,” a children’s story highlighting the September Moral Focus™ virtue of wisdom. She recently read to a group of children, some of whom were local NHA students, at The Salvation Army Kroc Center.
“Seeing them smile is the best!” McCormick said. “My second favorite part is when they find out I wrote the book – they are always so excited to meet a real-life author.”
That’s when the questions begin: How did you get the words on the page? How long did it take to write? Did you do the pictures? They just keep coming. To be clear, McCormick wrote the book with fellow author Michael Smith, and Evgenia Lumfur illustrated the book.
Her costume also draws interest from many who ask, ‘Why are you dressed like that?’
“I always laugh and then explain that I am Ollie the Owl and here to read to them! They also love to tell me their preference on owls, which turns into telling me their favorite animals, if they have any pets, what their pets’ names are, etc. It’s a slippery slope with the kiddos!”
It was a special week at the Kroc Center, as children participated in an Animal Planet summer camp. McCormick read to students and led them through an Ollie-themed craft. She said the children are happy to share their opinions on the book, which she appreciates.
“The kiddos absolutely love to tell me about books they have written, and some even like to tell me what I should have done differently!”
Great work sharing your story and Moral Focus virtues with local children, Sarah!
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find a charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.
McCormick, an IT Dynamics Business Analyst Manager at National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is also an author, who penned “Ollie the Owl,” a children’s story highlighting the September Moral Focus™ virtue of wisdom. She recently read to a group of children, some of whom were local NHA students, at The Salvation Army Kroc Center.
“Seeing them smile is the best!” McCormick said. “My second favorite part is when they find out I wrote the book – they are always so excited to meet a real-life author.”
That’s when the questions begin: How did you get the words on the page? How long did it take to write? Did you do the pictures? They just keep coming. To be clear, McCormick wrote the book with fellow author Michael Smith, and Evgenia Lumfur illustrated the book.
Her costume also draws interest from many who ask, ‘Why are you dressed like that?’
“I always laugh and then explain that I am Ollie the Owl and here to read to them! They also love to tell me their preference on owls, which turns into telling me their favorite animals, if they have any pets, what their pets’ names are, etc. It’s a slippery slope with the kiddos!”
It was a special week at the Kroc Center, as children participated in an Animal Planet summer camp. McCormick read to students and led them through an Ollie-themed craft. She said the children are happy to share their opinions on the book, which she appreciates.
“The kiddos absolutely love to tell me about books they have written, and some even like to tell me what I should have done differently!”
Great work sharing your story and Moral Focus virtues with local children, Sarah!
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find a charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.