Once upon a time, in a wondrous and whimsical place, young children softly giggled as they roamed the bookshelves with Alice, Cinderella, and Peter Pan. This week was special to them—it was Celebrate Literacy Week.
Palmetto Elementary School’s newly renovated magical media center captivated Superintendent Jason Wysong, who was fascinated by the incredible details promoting a love for literacy among students.
On Monday, Dr. Wysong, along with members of his district leadership team, School Board members, and educators from various departments, served as guest readers in the classrooms, including Derek Jensen, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, and Debra Estes, Director of the ESOL and migrant programs.
Safety patrols escorted the special visitors to their classrooms, where students eagerly awaited to see which book would be read to them. Superintendent Wysong read “Stick and Stone: Best Friends Forever,” a favorite book for at least one of the third-grade students.
In other classrooms, School Board Chair Chad Choate read to students and Vice-Chair Cindy Spray made new friends with a class, who presented her with a certificate to thank her for visiting.
Board Member Charlie Kennedy read a story about Pig the Pug, and Heather Felton told the tale of “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Palmetto Elementary students and staff were encouraged to wear shirts with words to celebrate on Monday. Sandra Marines, a migrant advocate in the Federal Programs & Grants Department, wore a shirt that read, “Reading is a ticket to adventure.” After reading to third-graders, Sandra reminisced with Assistant Principal Susie Ebbesmeyer, who was once her own son’s kindergarten teacher.
This year’s theme for Celebrate Literacy Week is Building Literacy: Constructing the Foundation for Success. The activities organized by each school are designed to raise awareness about the importance of reading and to inspire students and families to make reading a part of their daily routines.