Encourages students to keep up their reading skills over summer break
First Lady Ann Scott made her first stop on the 2017 Summer Literacy Adventure, where she read to students from The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast and encouraged them to make reading a part of their daily summer routines. This is the seventh consecutive year that First Lady Ann Scott has participated in the Summer Literacy Adventure.
“Reading has always been important to me and my family, and I am thrilled to once again participate in the Summer Literacy Adventure,” said First Lady Ann Scott. “Summer break is the perfect opportunity for families to spend extra time reading and learning together. I hope that all of Florida’s students will take the Summer Literacy pledge to help ensure they are prepared for a great school year ahead.”
The First Lady was joined by representatives from the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Lottery and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Books, state park passes and water bottles were generously donated for the student participants by the Florida Lottery.
“I am grateful to First Lady Scott for sharing her love of reading with Florida students, and I am excited that another Summer Literacy Adventure is underway,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “Our students worked hard all school year, and it is critical that they keep reading over the summer to retain the knowledge they have gained and to succeed when school starts back in the fall.”
“The Florida Lottery is proud to join First Lady Ann Scott at beautiful Eden Gardens State Park,” said Florida Lottery Field Sales Manager Anna Kenney. “We hope the 2017 Summer Literacy Adventure will inspire students across the state to discover new adventures through reading.”
The 2017 Summer Literacy Adventure helps keep Florida students excited about reading and literacy. Research shows that children who do not continue reading through the summer can lose a month or more of progress made during the school year. By encouraging their children to read, parents play an important role in ensuring every child reads at or above grade level.
“DEP is proud to partner with Florida’s First Lady and the Department of Education to celebrate the importance of reading and to encourage students to maintain critical literacy skills during the summer,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “Florida State Parks offer numerous scenic and serene environments, perfect for students to immerse themselves in a good book and learn about our natural resources.”
Students can fill out their Summer Literacy Adventure Pledge form at 2017 Summer Literacy Adventure. At the start of 2017 – 2018 academic year, First Lady Scott will visit the school whose students successfully completed the most pledges.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
