More than 50 Dimmitt Middle School students are prepared for summer with new reading materials and additional books for their classroom libraries, thanks to a Renton couple’s efforts for the third year.

Locals Bernie and Denny Dochnahl donated $1,500 to the school to fund a trip to Barnes and Noble, so the students could purchase materials for themselves and their classrooms.

The Dimmitt eighth-graders have demonstrated a commitment to reading and growth in their analysis of literature throughout the school year, a district release stated.

Adam Swinney and John Austin, school language arts teachers, have been working with the students this year to encourage and engage them in their literature study.

Austin calls the Dochnahls friends of Renton Schools, although their donation is not technically part of that fundraising organization.

“Dimmitt has been using the Reader’s Workshop curriculum for three years now, in which each classroom has a library with high interest books for our students,” he said. “The Dochnahl’s donation supports both students’ independent reading and our Reader’s Workshop curriculum. It also provides the students with an opportunity to experience the feeling of giving back to the school community.”

At the book store, students picked out a wide range of materials, with most students picking out books from the young adult section, like the series “The Mortal Instruments.” A few students selected books from the history section.