First, some clues about Wednesday’s “Mystery Reader” in Stacy Katzenmeier’s first-grade class at Quail Run School:

1. I went to first grade at Carlsbad Elementary School in California, where it was much warmer.
2. Later, at my next elementary school, I was elected student body president.
3. I’m the proud father of a daughter and a son — both students at Quail Run.
4. I work as a reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World.
5. And my all-time favorite food is … bacon.

Stumped?

Nice bowtie, eh? That's me, Mark Fagan, reading from Alexander

Well, many of the kids weren’t. By the time I’d walked in just before noon, the eager students were ready to hit me with plenty of feedback: “You’re Max’s dad!” … “I like bacon, too!” … “I love bacon!” … and a quick show of hands showed the majority of students agreed with me on having a “like” for bacon.

But enough about me.

Each Wednesday, Mrs. Katzenmeier welcomes a guest to read a story to her class.

My book: “Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse,” by Leo Lionni, a tale that follows a live mouse named Alexander who befriends and ultimately rescues a toy mouse, so that they can dance on together into the future.

What fun it is to read to kids. For a guy who writes every day at work, the chance to get out and read is something else.

A fine book ... with a happy ending.

Such volunteer opportunities — different formats, different times, different sites — exist at schools throughout the Lawrence school district, so I’m sure I’m not the only adult to leave a school with some valuable lessons.

Others will follow in the coming weeks and months as Mystery Readers, and I’d like to book a return engagement. But Mrs. Katzenmeier reports that while she has a few openings on the schedule, she’s hoping to fill them once her new student teacher joins the class in February.

That would be Lacie Reed, sister of KU basketball player Tyrel Reed. She’s also the significant other of Darrell Stuckey, a strong safety for the San Diego Chargers.

Lacie Reed has mentioned that some of her KU athlete connections plan to drop by the class for visits.

“I’m hoping,” Mrs. Katzenmeier said, as I was leaving

If a pro football player, and her brother, and a few guys like the Morris twins and Brady Morningstar — a Quail Run alumnus — start showing up to read, I’m sure the kids won’t remember much about the guy who loves bacon.

But that’s OK. I’m just hoping they’re all busy through April 4, the night of the NCAA championship game in Houston.

•••

The Lawrence school district once again is offering free developmental screenings to assess preschoolers’ walking, talking, hearing, vision, thinking and social skills.

The screenings are available for children who are 3 to 5 years old, and are offered by Lawrence Early Childhood Special Services.

Screenings will be offered, by appointment, during three upcoming Wednesdays — Dec. 15, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16 — at Kennedy School, 1605 Davis Road, which is across Harper Street from the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. A screening is conducted during a single appointment.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call or e-mail:

• Edie Boehle, secretary, 330-1643, eboehle@usd497.org.

• Morgan Carter, school psychologist, 330-4389, mcarter@usd497.org.

•••

Educators now have a chance to apply for state grants to finance recycling programs at their schools.

The Kansas Department of Environment announced Wednesday that grants would be offered through the Kansas Green School grant program, providing K-12 schools with the opportunity to implement recycling projects and teach students valuable environmental lessons.

“During these tight budget times, we are pleased to be able to provide financial assistance to schools and local governments to implement projects that reduce the amount of solid waste going to our landfills and at the same time teach lifelong lessons about being good stewards of our environment, ” said Bill Bider, director of the department’s Bureau of Waste Management.

The Kansas Green Schools Program combines grants, workshop opportunities for teachers and technical support for schools to “green” their buildings and grounds and to tie the projects to classroom curriculum.

Visit KansasGreenSchools.org to view the grant criteria and complete the online grant application.

Applications for these grants must be postmarked by Feb. 15, and winners will be notified by the end of May.

KDHE’s Bureaus of Air and Water also provide Green School grant funding. Contact Shari Wilson at swilson@kacee.org

or (913) 287-6879 for more information.

For more information about these and other grant opportunities and application procedures, call (785) 296-1600, or visit the grant program page at KDHEks.gov.

— Are you aware of something special happening in or coming to area schools? Let me know, at mfagan@ljworld.com.