WEDNESDAY 23

JANUARY 2019 KICKOFF

5 - 7 P.M. 01

FREE EVENT RAFFLE GRAB N' GO SNACKS ACTIVITIES FAMILY-FRIENDLY

The kickoff to Toms River's 2018-2019 NEA Big Read is a Parent Academy book club meeting at East Dover Elementary School. Led by teachers Amy Naecker and Beth Pokorny, parents who have read (or want to read) the novel will embark on two 30- to 45-minute discussions in the media center. In the gym, students will engage in book-centered activities including STEAM, read-a-louds, and more.

Toms River's NEA Big Read Calendar of Events

Program events based on the

novel The Things They

Carried by Tim O'Brien

W H A T D O

CARRY?

WE

KICKOFF EVENT SPECIAL EVENT 1 BOOK DISCUSSIONS 1, 2

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Special guests: ROTC, American Legion, High School East's Scott Kenny, Toms River Police Department, and more. TEAM high schoolers will lead and supervise student activities.

THURSDAY 14

FEBRUARY 2019 TRRSTUESDAY 19

THURSDAY 21 WEDNESDAY 27

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

SPECIAL EVENT 2 Poetry Festival @ RWJBarnabas Health Arena: Highlighting student work and featuring poets from Warrior Writers, the event will be a celebration of poetry, the spoken word, and student talent through the lens of war.

WEDNESDAY 20

BOOK DISCUSSION 3: Public book discussion of The Things They Carried at Ocean County Library Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. A discussion of the novel led by literary experts and professionals from OCL. CANCELED

BOOK DISCUSSION 4: NEA Big Read Day @ Intermediate East Feat. the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Trunk; classroom book discussions; media center activities; veteran voices; project partners; and parent engagement

BOOK DISCUSSION 5: NEA Big Read Day @ Intermediate South Feat. the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Trunk; classroom book discussions; media center activities; veteran voices; project partners; and parent engagement

FRIDAY 22

BOOK DISCUSSION 6: NEA Big Read Day @ Intermediate North Feat. the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Trunk; classroom book discussions; media center activities; veteran voices; project partners; and parent engagement

BOOK DISCUSSION 7: NEA Big Read Day @ High School South Feat. the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Trunk; classroom book discussions; media center activities; veteran voices; project partners; and parent engagement

BOOK DISCUSSION 8: Guest author @ Ocean County Library Featuring: Billy Terrell Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Guest author Billy Terrell, a veteran of the Vietnam War, will speak about his book, The Other Side of Rock and War.

THURSDAY 7

MARCH 2019 TRRSFRIDAY 8

MONDAY 18 TUESDAY 26

FRIDAY 15

SPECIAL EVENT 7: Student reflection at the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation's Protectors of Freedom monument Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Featuring sculptor Brian Hanlon

THURSDAY 14

SPECIAL EVENT 3: Free screening of Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War" at Ocean County Library Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Episode block of the acclaimed series which features, among others, author Tim O'Brien.

BOOK DISCUSSION 10: NEA Big Read Day @ High School East Feat. the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Trunk; classroom book discussions; media center activities; veteran voices; project partners; and parent engagement

SPECIAL EVENT 5: Music of the Vietnam Era @ Ocean County Library Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Featuring local band Strictly 60s, explore the context of the Vietnam Era through song.

SPECIAL EVENT 4: Free screening of Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War" at Ocean County Library Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Episode block of the acclaimed series which features, among others, author Tim O'Brien.

THURSDAY 21

BOOK DISCUSSION 9: NEA Big Read Day @ High School North Feat. the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Trunk; classroom book discussions; media center activities; veteran voices; project partners; and parent engagement

SPECIAL EVENT 6: Free screening of Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War" at Ocean County Library Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Episode block of the acclaimed series which features, among others, author Tim O'Brien.

THURSDAY 28

MARCH 2019 KEYNOTE

12:30 - 1:45 6:30 - 8

Ocean County College and the Ocean County College Foundation

SPONSORED BY

The culmination of Toms River's 2018-2019 NEA Big Read is a visit from Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They Carried. Mr. O'Brien is a Vietnam veteran whose novels have sold more than six million copies. In 2013, O’Brien received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature from the Pritzker Military Library, and in 2018 he received the Mark Twain Award in literature. Events will be hosted at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College.

BOOK DISCUSSION 11: The Visiting Writers’ Reading Series: Full class period discussion of The Things They Carried with author Tim O'Brien followed by Q&A and book signing. Open to: OCC and TRRS students

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in

partnership with Arts Midwest.

Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts &

KEYNOTE EVENT BOOK DISCUSSION 12: A discussion of The Things They Carried with author Tim O'Brien followed by Q&A and book signing. Open to: public

Special guest: Tim O'Brien