Red bags, big smiles: Starr King K-8 School launches Raising A Reader Program

Excitement filled the classrooms at Starr King K-8 School as students eagerly received their bright red book bags, marking the launch of the Raising A Reader Red Book Bag Program in the San Juan Unified School District.

On Nov. 6, Starr King students received their first Red Book Bags, complete with books, bookmarks and pencils. These bags will rotate weekly, allowing students to explore new stories and share them with their families, building strong reading habits together.

Starr King K-8 is proud to be the district’s largest participating site in this new K–2 literacy initiative, which includes 14 schools across San Juan Unified. The program aims to strengthen early literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading by helping families establish meaningful, shared reading routines at home.

“The model is simple—each student receives a high-quality tote bag containing three to four books that rotate weekly,” explained Natalia Aguirre-Mazzi, coordinator of family engagement. “Over the course of the school year, families will have read nearly 100 new titles together.”

Aguirre also shared her enthusiasm for how the initiative aligns with district priorities.

“I’m excited about the ways in which this partnership aligns with so many site, department and district goals,” she said. “This program supports K–2 literacy, is rooted in family engagement and demonstrates the power of partnerships.”

She added that supporting literacy holds personal meaning for her.

“Making sure kids have resources and tools to excel in literacy is near and dear to my heart,” Aguirre shared. “Literacy affects so much of our educational experience—and even everyday life. Being a fluent reader opens so many doors to learning, curiosity and imagination.”

The program is made possible through the generosity of the Masons of California, whose support fully funded the initiative.

A districtwide celebration event is planned for January, bringing together partners, educators and families to highlight the impact of this meaningful literacy initiative.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming both the Raising A Reader and Masons of California teams onto a San Juan Unified campus,” said Aguirre. “It will be wonderful to hear directly from the children about their experiences and celebrate two months of book bag rotations.”

The Raising A Reader Red Book Bag Program exemplifies San Juan Unified’s commitment to family engagement and community partnerships, helping students discover the joy of reading, one red bag at a time.