Over the summer, sixth graders read Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree, a story about a 216-year-old oak tree named Red who is the neighborhood’s "wishtree"―people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches.

Throughout his many years, or rings, Red watches over the neighborhood and eventually observes the trials of a young Muslim girl whose family moves to town and is not immediately welcomed. Through the kindness of a good neighbor and Red the wishtree, the young girl and her family find their place in the community. Wishtree is a story of hope, community, and kindness, and it emphasizes the connections we all share regardless of differences.

“As I wrote my wish on the leaf, I was reminded of how much I loved the book.”
—Sixth-Grade Student

“It was so fun to do, especially when we went outside to hang them. It made me think about Red and how powerful Nature is.”
—Sixth-Grade Student

To celebrate completing the book, the sixth graders created their own wishtree on campus near Ms. Black’s classroom. They also invited other students and teachers to add their wishes to the branches.

“It made me happy to write my special wish and actually get to hang it on a tree.”
​​​​​​​—Sixth-Grade Student

Middle School English teachers, Ms. Black, Ms. Marlow, Ms. Padilla, and Dr. deChabert, were delighted with this all-grade read and the subsequent creation of the RCDS wishtree. In addition to encouraging their colleagues to add their wishes to the tree, they wrote, “We highly recommend reading the book, too! It’s quick, oh-so-important, and satisfying!  You’ll never forget it.”

“I love still seeing my wish hanging on the tree every day when I walk by”
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​—Sixth-Grade Student