The Just Read, Florida! Office and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), in partnership with other FDOE offices, school districts, state organizations and agencies, are planning the eighth annual statewide Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! 2016 events. Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! 2016 is scheduled for the week of January 25-29, 2016, so mark your calendars now for this important week of events! 

The goal of this year’s Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is to promote literacy throughout the state by raising awareness in your community and with students. The School District of Manatee County will be celebrating the occasion with fun activities promoting literacy throughout the week:

Monday, January 25, 2016

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS – RECORD DAY

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

-Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene will be reading to students at Manatee Elementary, 1609 6th Avenue East, Bradenton, at 8 a.m.

-The school library at Kinnan Elementary, 3415 Tallevast Road, Sarasota, will remain open until 7 p.m. Parents are encouraged to use the extra hours to read with their children or check out books from the library.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

-Lizzie Brown, an actress from Longboat Key and member of the Screen Actors Guild, will bring books “to life” at Sea Breeze Elementary School’s Media Center. The school is located at 3601 71st Street West, Bradenton. The assembly times are as follows: 2nd and 3rd grades – 8:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.; Kindergarten and 1st grades – 9:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.; 4th and 5th grades – 10:15 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

-Don Hall, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, will be reading to students at Freedom Elementary, 9515 State Road 64 East, Bradenton at 9 a.m.

-Ballard Elementary School, 912 18th Street West, Bradenton will be hosting “Booknic Day.” Parents, Grandparents and Guardians will be joining students inside or outside for a picnic and reading time. Regular lunch times are from 10:50 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.

Friday, January 29, 2016

-Cynthia Saunders, Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services, will be reading to students at Freedom Elementary, 9515 State Road 64 East, Bradenton at 9:30 a.m.

-Palmetto Elementary School will host an event called, “I Dream of Reading”. Students may wear their pajamas to school. They will be participating in a poster contest (Grades K-2) and a writing contest (Grades 3-5). The school is located at 1540 10th Street West, Bradenton.

-Gene Witt Elementary School will be holding a special event on Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The “Literacy Night” is to bring students, staff and families together for a night of stories. There will be refreshments, extended hours to shop the school’s book fair, and teachers inside four classrooms reading their favorite books. Gene Witt Elementary is located at 200 Rye Road East, Bradenton.