First Lady Ann Scott and Florida Students Celebrate Literacy In Florida Schools
Monday, January 26, 2015
DOE Press Office
850-245-0413
First Lady Ann Scott and Florida Students Celebrate Literacy In Florida Schools
Tallahassee, Fla., January 26, 2015 – Today, First Lady Ann Scott kicked off her literacy tour in conjunction with 2015 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! at Timber Creek High School in Orlando. The seventh annual observance of Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! focuses on the impact literacy has in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This year’s theme is “Reading Accelerates Success.”
“Reading skills are critical to success in school and in life,” said Florida First Lady Ann Scott. “Reading has always been very important for me; as our girls were growing up, Rick and I made reading a part of our daily routine. Now, I am thrilled to share my passion for reading with my three young grandsons. I always look forward to CLW, and I hope that through this year's activities, I am able to inspire Florida students and families to find fun and adventure in the pages of a book.”
The First Lady will visit eight schools on her literacy tour:
- Timber Creek High School in Orlando
- Bay Meadows Elementary in Orlando
- Sea Gate Elementary in Naples
- Lamarque Elementary in North Port
- Westchase Elementary in Tampa
- Oak Grove Elementary in Tampa
- Audubon Elementary in Merritt Island
- Fishweir Elementary in Jacksonville
“Literacy is fundamental to lifelong success as it plays a critical role in both the classroom and the workplace,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “Reading strengthens skills important to learning and broadens our knowledge of the world around us. I urge students to set aside time to read each day.”
During Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!, students will have the opportunity to participate in the annual Million Minute Marathon. Florida students will be challenged to read for an additional 20 minutes during the school day in celebration of literacy. This year’s marathon sets a goal for Florida students to read for 36 million minutes. The results will be tallied and submitted by each district to the Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! office.
Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is a week-long celebration from Jan. 26 - 30, 2015, geared toward raising awareness for literacy programs and projects offered by the Department of Education's Just Read, Florida! office, and its partner agencies and organizations. The week's events are made possible by these participating sponsors: Florida Lottery; National Geographic; Dairy Council of Florida, a Division of Florida Dairy Farmers; Scholastic; Florida Department of Health; Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Kennedy Space Center. The Department of Education actively works with community groups and volunteers throughout the state to make reading a priority in students' lives. For more information about Just Read, Florida!, visit www.justreadflorida.com.
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