Read The Most From Coast to Coast Presents Pastries For Parents

Mar 1, 2013 4:00 - 8:00pm

Apalachee Tapestry Magnet school of the Arts



Press Release

Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts Invites Families to Read Together

On the night of Friday, March 1st, students and their families will gather at the Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts in the school library to share some special reading time. Apalachee Elementary invites the community to join them in participating in a nationally recognized Read the Most From Coast to Coast reading outreach event. On the night of the event, parents, grandparents, and siblings gather informally to select books, talk about what they’ve read, what they recommend, and prove their understanding with computerized reading practice quizzes. The key is that families have fun and spend quality time together in an activity that promotes good reading habits.

“Community Reading Nights like this one are catching on throughout the country,” said Crystal Mathews, Media Specialist at Apalachee Elementary, who will oversee reading night activities from 4:00 to 8:00 on the night of the event. “In our hurry-up society, it’s important that busy parents and their busy children take time for an activity that is fun and promotes togetherness. Practicing reading is a natural.”

Aside from the fellowship, one exciting aspect of Read the Most From Coast to Coast Community Reading Night is the use of the school’s reading management software, Accelerated Reader. During the school day, students at Apalachee use the program to prove their comprehension of books read. Now, other family members are getting in on the fun. “It’s become common for students and parents to have a little friendly competition with Accelerated Reader,” Mrs. Mathews said.

When the proposal of a Community Reading Night in collaboration with the annual Spring Book Fair and Reading Picnic was initially proposed to Principal Iris Wilson, she quickly saw the advantages for the students. Ms. Sherry Shorter, Business Partner Coordinator, also approached the schools’ multiple business partners to help meet some of the financial requirements of staging Read the Most From Coast to Coast. “Someone has to meet expenses for opening the school, keeping the lights on, and helping with refreshments,” Ms. Shorter said, “and their support has been great.”

For more information about Community Reading Night, contact the school office or Crystal Mathews at Apalachee Elementary, 850-488-7110.


Crystal Mathews, Media Specialist, 850-488-7110, 650 Trojan Tr., Tallahassee, FL. 32311, mathewsc1@leonschools.net

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