The Papillion Public Library added a hands-on, horticultural twist to summer learning on June 8 when library staff visited PLCS Summer School students as part of the library's June reading program, "Plant a Seed: Read!" The visit blended literacy promotion with a creative planting activity that sent every student home with their own living, growing project.

Students decorated an egg, which then served as a planter for chia seeds. As the seeds germinate and sprout, the green growth will resemble hair on each student's unique egg character — a playful variation on the classic chia pet. The activity gave students a tangible connection to the program's gardening theme while nurturing an early appreciation for plant science and creative expression.

The library also encouraged students and families to explore the broader "Plant a Seed: Read!" summer reading program throughout June. Children who sign up receive a free book to keep — a low-barrier incentive designed to encourage reading habits and library engagement over the summer months when learning loss is a common concern for educators.

The visit was coordinated through PLC Schools Cooperation BEST, the district's business-education partnership program that facilitates connections between community organizations and PLCS classrooms. By bringing the public library into the summer school setting, the partnership reinforces that learning opportunities for students extend well beyond school walls and into the broader Papillion community.