Galesburg
Public Schools
Foundation

Sandburg Days Festival


2007 – The Foundation was pleased to help sponsor two events for this year’s festival. On April 26 - 28, 2007, a new reading event was held that involved Galesburg High School Juniors. “The Big Read” was held in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts with an objective of promoting reading for pleasure among young adults. The Foundation and festival committee saw a great need to encourage reading, which has so dramatically declined over the past 20 years. The NEA chose the “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck and District #205 approved this event.


In addition to “The Big Read”, David HB Drake returned again this year with his “Heartland” program for the fourth graders in District #205. This program features the history of Illinois and is both educational and entertaining to the students.


2003, 2005, 2006 - Funding was provided to help bring David H.B. Drake, a folk musician who brought the history of Carl Sandburg to life through music and song. Not only an enjoyable program for the 4th graders but they were exposed to many new and interesting ways of learning.


Emily Arnold McCully

Fourth graders from District 205 with Emily Arnold McCully
at the library presentation. (2001)

2001 – The Foundation helped fund a visiting author to inspire 4th graders in the district. Emily Arnold McCully made a special presentation to the students at the Galesburg Public Library. McCully won the Caldecott Award for Best Illustrator for Miretta on the High Wire. Known for her watercolor style, her book Popcorn at the Palace is a tale set in the 1800’s about Galesburg native Olmstead Ferris and his daughter, Maisie. The event spurred the imaginations of our young authors and illustrators.


2000 – In conjunction with this festival, a Writing Workshop was held at Galesburg High School. Helga Sandburg, daughter of Galesburg native poet Carl Sandburg and Penelope Niven, Sandburg biographer, worked with interested students developing writing techniques and styles.