Hobbs Middle School wins 1st Place in Celebrate Literacy Week contest

Hobbs Middle School’s Celebrate Literacy Week Theme for 2016 was “Literacy Changes our World”. The

school’s Student Government and BETA clubs joined with 7th grade Civics classes to establish a theme,

secure community sponsors, and generate interest to purchase Pete and the Cat book packs for over 40

Pre-K and Head Start Students. The goal of this service project was to have students, teachers, and the

community collaborate to engage students in a project to promote, foster, and encourage good

citizenship and enhance literacy in the community, schools and beyond.

Mr. Hall’s and Mrs. Jones’s 7th grade Civics classes drafted and sent sponsor letters to community

businesses. The students also wrote notes to the Pre-K and Head Start student telling them about the

book they would receive. Students then traveled to Bagdad Elementary and Rhodes Elementary to read

the books with their assigned students. The Pre-K and Head Start students were so happy and surprised

when they learned the books would be theirs to keep. This service project played an important role in

helping to develop productive citizens and fluent readers.

On Thursday, January 28, 2016, Marilyn Whitworth, Grace Sanborn, Joseph Pool, and Demahdrian Slack

(HMS students), Jessica Rowell (Literacy Coach), Floyd Smith (Middle School Director and past principal),

Terence Hall (Civics Teacher), and Carissa Hanger (SGA Sponsor), traveled to Tallahassee to hear the

announcement of the winners of the eighth annual statewide Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida contest at

the Museum of Florida History. First Lady Ann Scott and Chancellor Hershel Lyons announced the winners.

First Lady Ann Scott said, “It is so inspiring to see the thoughtfulness, creativity and generosity that our

state’s students demonstrated through their literacy-civics service projects. The Museum of Florida

History is a wonderful location to celebrate how literacy changes oneself and others. Surrounded by

artifacts of Florida, we can all celebrate the many ways Floridians have shaped the nation and the world.

I urge all Florida students and families to continue in that tradition by improving their reading skills and

making a difference in their communities.”

The winners of the 2016 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! statewide contest include:

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

1 st place: HobbsMiddle School, Santa RosaCounty

2 nd place: Pemayetv Emahakv Middle Our Way Charter School, GladesCounty

3rd place: FloridaSchool for the Deaf and the Blind

The prizes were sponsored by the Florida Education Foundation: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second

place, and $250 for third place. The winning projects will be featured on the Just Read, Florida! website

and the Department of Education’s social media pages. Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is sponsored by

the Florida Lottery, Florida Education Foundation, Scholastic and Legoland. For more information about

other Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! events, visit Just Read, Florida!