Introducing the Brave Book Club

A message from Indian Hill Interim Superintendent Dr. Melissa Stewart

We want our students to feel seen.

That is the heart behind the Brave Book Club—a new initiative designed to celebrate the everyday courage, kindness, creativity, perseverance, and leadership we see in our youngest learners.

At Indian Hill Primary School and Indian Hill Elementary School, our teachers are constantly sharing the most incredible things about our students. They tell us about the child who quietly helps a classmate feel welcome. The student who keeps trying—even when something is hard. The young artist who expresses big ideas with color and imagination. The learner who asks thoughtful questions and inspires others to think more deeply. These moments often happen in the middle of an ordinary school day—but they are anything but ordinary.

So, we asked ourselves: How can we capture those moments? How can we help children recognize their strengths and feel proud of who they are becoming?

That’s where the Brave Book Club begins.

Once a month at each building, we will take the stories our teachers share and turn them into a professionally printed book featuring one student as the main character. These books will be inspired by real experiences—real choices, real growth, real bravery—and written to reflect the unique traits that make each child shine.

This isn’t about being perfect. It isn’t about being the loudest or the fastest or the best at something. It’s about the moments that reveal character—when students show resilience, when they help others, when they take a risk to learn, when they use their voice for good, or when they demonstrate empathy and compassion.

Every month, two new books will be created—one for Indian Hill Primary School and one for Indian Hill Elementary School—each spotlighting a student whose actions remind us of what it means to be Brave.

Here’s the best part: I will be surprising these students.

Each month, I will visit the classroom, share the book aloud with the class, and celebrate the student whose story inspired it. We anticipate a powerful message landing where it matters most: You matter. We notice you. We are proud of who you are.

After the celebration, copies of each Brave Book Club book will be available for everyone to enjoy. You will be able to see them in the media center at each building, where they will become part of a growing collection of student-centered stories that reflect the very best of our school community.

The Brave Book Club is one more way we are working to strengthen belonging across our schools and help every student recognize their unique contributions. We want students to feel seen not only for what they achieve, but for who they are: as learners, as friends, as helpers, as leaders, as growing individuals.

Because every child has a story worth celebrating.

And at Indian Hill, we’re proud to help tell it.

Dedicated to the success of our children,

Dr. Melissa Stewart

Interim Superintendent, Indian Hill School District

Pictured: Indian Hill Interim Superintendent Dr. Melissa Stewart visits Indian Hill Primary School to launch the new Brave Book Club, celebrating the district’s youngest learners. Photos provided.