Goshen senior collects 1,048 books for Scotchtown Avenue students

A Goshen High School senior turned her former elementary school connection into 1,048 books for Scotchtown Avenue Elementary students, giving every child there a book to take home for the summer. Francesca Zuccaro, who once was part of the SAS community herself, organized the literacy drive as a practical way to put age-appropriate reading material into young students’ hands.

Goshen Central School District said Zuccaro’s effort grew out of her love of reading and her desire to give back to children who are still building reading habits. The district said the project went beyond a simple book drive because it helped make sure students could read outside the classroom and keep building skills once school ended for the year.

The books reached a school that serves grades K-2 and has library class once a week for all students. Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School is led by principal Kristin Driscoll, and the district’s literacy approach puts reading, writing, listening and speaking together as part of a balanced K-6 program. That focus makes summer access especially important for younger children, who can lose ground when books are harder to get at home.

The U.S. Department of Education describes the summer slide as the loss of academic skills and knowledge over the summer months, and education research has found that summer learning loss can widen achievement gaps if it is not addressed. In Goshen, the district said Zuccaro’s project helped every child at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary take home a book for the summer, turning a student-led idea into a direct academic support.

District leaders framed the project as an example of the kind of civic responsibility they want to see from Goshen students. The district says its mission is to create lifelong learners who demonstrate personal well-being and civic responsibility, and it praised Zuccaro’s communication skills, determination and heart. The result was a simple but tangible model for Orange County schools and community groups: one student, one school and a focused effort that put 1,048 books into the hands of young readers.