FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
?
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
?
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
TO:
?
District School Superintendents
Middle
School
Principals
FROM:
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John L. Winn, Commissioner
DATE:
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March 3, 2005
RE:
?
Read Together, Florida
Imagine an entire state the size of Florida reading and discussing the same book! Recently, Governor
Bush announced
Hoot
, by Florida author
Carl Hiaasen??
, as the book for the second annual Read
Together, Florida program. Throughout the months of March and April, we invite each middle
school student, teacher, administrator and staff to read and discuss this book together.
The Governor also announced a statewide essay contest for middle school students. The winner of
the contest will have his or her essay published in Miami Dade College’s
Beginnings
journal, which
is a publication for first time writers. Washington Mutual Bank will also award the following:
First Place -
$1,000.00 scholarship money to student; and
$1,000.00
to
student’s
school
Second Place -
$500.00 scholarship money to student
Third Place -
$250.00 scholarship money to student
Essays are due April, 8, 2005, to the Just Read, Florida! office. Essay instructions can be found at
www.justreadflorida.com
by clicking on the book icon
.
I ask that you join us in this wonderful celebration of reading across our state. A list of activities can
be found at http://www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org. You can share this book with your friends
and co-workers, encourage discussion and help promote reading in your middle schools. By reading
together, we strengthen bonds of community in our state, and help our children develop into strong,
independent readers.
JLW/mlo/cv
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
