March 6, 2026- Students and staff at Intermediate North recently demonstrated the power of community and compassion through a schoolwide book drive held in honor of Rare Disease Day.

The initiative was part of the school’s larger “Dive to Thrive” challenge, a two-month competition designed to motivate students to excel in academics, behavior, and attendance while building school spirit ahead of NJSLA testing.

Throughout the week, students brought in gently-used books that will be donated to Children’s Specialized Hospital and other local organizations. The Intermediate North community collected an incredible 2,785 books.

“I could not be more proud of our students and staff,” said Int. North Supervisor of Instruction Brie Bates. “Dive to Thrive is about more than competition. It's about building positive habits and strengthening our community. Seeing our Dolphins come together to donate nearly 3,000 books to children who need them most truly reflects the kindness and character of this school.”

Grade levels competed to see which could collect the most books. The results were impressive across the board:

• 1st Place – 8th Grade: 1,290 books
• 2nd Place – 6th Grade: 834 books
• 3rd Place – 7th Grade: 661 books

The Dive to Thrive Challenge will continue throughout March and April with additional activities focused on improving student attendance, reinforcing positive behavior, and encouraging academic growth. One highlight is the school’s “March Madness Math Challenge,” where student teams compete by completing iReady and IXL lessons to advance through weekly brackets.

By combining academic motivation with service opportunities, Intermediate North continues to encourage students to strive for success while giving back.

As one student noted, “When we dive in together, cool things happen.”