At Springfield Elementary, readers are leaders

Springfield Elementary, one of three elementary schools in the Palisades School District in Bucks County, PA, is thrilled to unveil its brand-new Panther Pawsitive Book Vending Machine

Springfield Elementary, one of three elementary schools in the Palisades School District in Bucks County, PA, is thrilled to unveil its brand-new Panther Pawsitive Book Vending Machine — a joyful way to celebrate positive behavior while encouraging a lifelong love of reading!

The initiative began with a Springfield teacher who had seen a similar program at her own child’s school in another district. She, along with a committee of Springfield teachers, brought the idea to the Springfield Elementary PTA (SEPTA). Springfield faculty and staff had enough new hardcover and paperback books available to stock the machine for the entire school year! With the help and generosity of families, and the tireless efforts of volunteers, the dream became a reality with a ribbon cutting in its new home in the main lobby of the school on September 19, 2025. Moving forward, book fair initiatives, family donations, and the “Buy One, Get One Free” (BOGO) promotion at the spring book fair will help keep the shelves filled with exciting titles for many years to come.

Here’s how it works: each month, one student per class is chosen by a rotating group of teachers, specialists, and support staff to receive a vending token. Tokens reward students for consistently demonstrating qualities such as perseverance, leadership, kindness, academic growth, and positive behavior. Each moment is celebrated with photos that are shared with the student’s family and at Panther Pride assemblies, adding to the excitement.

With its custom Panther wrap, upgraded trays for picture books, twinkling lights in school colors, and energy-efficient design, the vending machine is built to serve all six grade levels. More than just a machine, it’s a powerful new way to inspire reading, recognize student achievements, and spread joy throughout the school community.

At Springfield, every page turned is a step toward success—and every book from the Panther Pawsitive machine is a celebration of Panther Pride!