Rocky's Friends
	It all started with a simple goal- to make writing fun for kids. We knew that if kids saw writing as fun, they would write more and become better writers. In the spring of 2007, we started off with a summer writing project. We collected shoe boxes and filled them with summer writing supplies and a bare book for them to write in over the summer. Our local Education Foundation supplied the students with the writing materials and bare book.
Parents came in for our annual Family Reading Night and helped to decorate and fill the boxes.
The boxes have gradually evolved from shoe boxes to canvas bags that make it easier for students to take their writing along with them over the summer months.Our West Carroll PTO supported the purchase of the bags.
	The next year, our writing mascot came in to help! Rocky writes to the students and they write back to him. Click here to read some letters from students.
We began a annual tradition of an 'Author & Me' celebration. The summer books the students write are on display in our cafeteria that night.
	We wrote a grant through the Illinois Reading Council to help us bring Illinois authors to our school. We ask the authors that come in the fall to stay for our evening 'Author & Me' celebration to talk to parents and students about writing.
We have just published our first West Carroll Primary School Poetry Book to sell at our spring concert. The proceeds from the book sales will go toward inviting authors to our school and expanding our summer writing project to include more grade levels.
	Rocky just had an "extreme raccoon" makeover! Facemakers, Inc. located in Savanna, IL, donated a real raccoon mascot for our project. Rocky's t-shirt was donated by BSD Printing in Mount Carroll. BSD Printing also made Rocky t-shirts for all of Rocky's biggest fans. Check out the new t-shirts!
Rocky recently traveled to the Illinois Reading Conference to present on inspiring young writers. While he was there, he met Tedd Arnold, author of the Fly Guy series! Rocky loves Fly Guy books!