GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Camp Fire that leveled Paradise last November left hundreds of displaced students traumatized by their loss. Paradise Elementary School was totally destroyed by the fire, and students needed to relocate. School officials concerned for the well-being of the children, felt it was important to keep teachers and their students together. After a remarkable feat of logistics, Paradise Elementary School administrators, teachers and students were moved into Oroville’s Bird Street School. 

For the past fourteen years, Gridley’s FOCUS, a children’s charity, has given out books to students in Richvale, Biggs, Gridley, Manzanita and Live Oak. Even though Oroville lies outside the jurisdiction boundaries of the Focus book give-away, Focus felt this situation was a special need and wanted to get books into the hands of the children. Arrangements for a visitation were made. 

Last week, Focus members visited Bird Street School. They dressed up as Dr. Seuss’ characters and took with them boxes of books. In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Around America the ladies presented a program full of laughs, poems and cheers to TK through third graders. Photos of the students with the "Cat in the Hat" characters were taken. After the program, students were able to choose for his/her own a book from the hundreds on display. A big box of new books was left for the fourth and fifth graders for their “book swap” later in the afternoon. Focus member Grove Dahl said, “It was great to meet the children and talk and tease with them and send them home with their very own books!” Pictured above are first graders with the “Cat in the Hat” characters. In the second photo are two Paradise teachers standing with third graders.