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WVHS students stopped to smell the roses while checking out books

Five young women stand behind a table laden with bouquets of colorful roses, with a blurred background of a school hallway.

A love of literacy was in the air at Warwick Valley High School on April 23. The high school library was full of conversation, connection, and flowers, as students and staff came together to celebrate culture and a shared appreciation for books on... The Day of Books and Roses!

For one day only, any student who checked out a book from the WVHS library received a complimentary rose. While simple in concept, the event proved powerful in impact. The idea was first introduced by sophomore Carla Agreda Jimenez, an exchange student from Zaragoza, Spain, who shared the tradition of Saint George’s Day, celebrated each year on April 23.

“On Saint George’s Day, people give roses and books to their loved ones,” Carla explained. “Everyone goes out into the streets, and there are book markets and flower markets everywhere. The whole city fills with flowers. It’s a really beautiful day.”

Carla first shared her idea with floral design teacher Talia Baker, who then brought it to library media specialist Megan Davis. Together with their students, they set out to recreate a piece of that experience at Warwick Valley.

“This whole thing was truly student-led,” Ms. Davis said. “Everything except for picking up the flowers and checking out the books was done by students.”

A whiteboard with a Valentine's Day message stands in the foreground, while a brightly lit hallway with circular patterns on the floor is visible in the background through an open doorway.

Floral design students played a key role in bringing the vision to life. They used their budgeting and cost analysis experience to secure hundreds of roses in a variety of colors through a partnership with Alders Wholesale Florist. For Ms. Baker, the project was a natural extension of the work happening in her classroom.

“We do a lot of pricing activities in floral design,” she said. “Students have to figure out how much things will cost in order to make their arrangements, and they were able to apply those skills in this scenario to make decisions.”

Inside the library, floral design students decorated the space with fresh arrangements, while avid readers recruited by Ms. Davis curated book displays and stepped into the role of “book sommeliers,” offering recommendations and helping their peers find something new. Many spent their study halls in the library, guiding visitors and connecting with others over a shared love of reading.

The impact was immediate. By the first few periods, students could be seen walking through the halls with roses in hand, while inside the library, groups gathered around shelves, browsing and sharing recommendations. And the numbers also told the same story. By 9 a.m., more books had been checked out than on a typical full day.

The day ended with a grand total of 360 books checked out!

The Day of Books and Roses didn’t just bring fresh flowers into the library, it also brought fresh faces, by attracting students who otherwise may not have stepped into the library.

“We’re reaching kids that maybe wouldn’t come in on their own,” Ms. Davis added. “I’ve worked really hard to build readership over the past few years, and I’m seeing that more this year than ever. This is just another way to connect with them.”

Floral design students continue that work throughout the spring, preparing arrangements for events including National Honor Society celebrations, senior project presentations and the school’s annual newspaper fashion show.

EVENT GALLERY

In the foreground, a young woman with blonde hair holds a book and a pink rose, while in the background, a woman with dark hair stands behind a computer monitor.
A woman in the foreground hands a bouquet of yellow and red roses to a group of teenagers in the background, who are gathered around a reception desk with computers.
A young woman in a cream sweatshirt offers a pink rose to someone behind a reception desk cluttered with books and a phone, while a bouquet of yellow and red roses fills the foreground.
In the foreground, a vibrant bouquet of roses sits on a counter where two women are working at computers, while in the background, a group of students stand in a hallway with yellow columns.
A whiteboard with a Valentine's Day message stands in the foreground, while a brightly lit hallway with circular patterns on the floor is visible in the background through an open doorway.
Three young women browse a tiered display of books in the foreground, with a classroom or library setting visible in the background.
In the foreground, vibrant bouquets of red, pink, and yellow roses are arranged in black vases, while in the background, a group of young people are gathered, some interacting with the flowers.
A young woman smiles as she stands behind a vibrant display of red, pink, and yellow roses, with other people visible in the blurred background of an indoor setting.
In the foreground, several young women arrange vibrant bouquets of red, pink, and yellow roses in black vases, while in the background, a group of teenagers and young adults mingle in a brightly lit hallway.
Two young women exchange roses in the foreground, with a bookshelf and classroom in the background.
Five young women stand behind a table laden with bouquets of colorful roses, with a blurred background of a school hallway.
A young woman in the foreground offers a pink rose and a small box to someone behind a counter, while another woman stands behind her in the blurred background.