FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
PETER BOULWARE
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
JOHN R. PADGET
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Contact Information:
Diane Vaccari
(850) 245-0874
diane.vaccari@fldoe.org
DPS: 2009-157
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District Superintendents
FROM:
Dr.
Frances Haithcock
DATE:
August 14, 2009
SUBJECT: SUNSHINE STATE YOUNG READER’S AWARD PROGRAM
Welcome back to another challenging and exciting year with our Florida students! Each school
year provides countless opportunities to continue our commitment to furthering student
achievement and nurturing lifelong readers. Our library media programs continue to provide
literature-based activities that promote the enjoyment of reading and enhance instructional
initiatives. Participation in the Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award (SSYRA) Program is an
excellent way to nurture lifelong reading and to motivate students in grades three through eight
to read high interest contemporary literature.
The SSYRA Program is co-sponsored by the Florida Department of Education’s Library Media
Services and the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME). As in past years, the
School Participation Form
is located on the SSYRA Program Internet site at http://myssyra.org/.
Specific directions for accessing this form are being emailed to your school library media
specialists.
Throughout the year, please visit the SSYRA Program site for further information concerning
voting procedures, curriculum activities, and promotional ideas. At the end of the year,
a voting
participation certificate, winning book posters, and
voting schools.
We look forward to your school’s participation this year in this worthwhile reading motivation
program. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction.
FH/nt
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
