Celebrate Literacy Week is an annual, week-long celebration of reading and literature throughout the state of Florida, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of reading while inspiring families to make reading a part of their daily routine.
Plant City High School has held several events over the years to help bring the excitement of reading to students, events that have included hosting local middle school students, book giveaways, food trucks with discounts given to students who donate books and themed days throughout the school week.
On Motivational Monday, students submitted short written entries on how an author or book has impacted them personally. On Tuesday, PCHS held a book giveaway for students in their library. On Wednesday, it was “Wear A Weird Word Day,” where students can pick a specific word and dress in a way that exemplifies the word they chose. On Friday, teachers were encouraged to read one excerpt of their choice from any piece of literature aloud while the school’s highly-anticipated door decorating contest was also judged.
This was the school’s third year holding the door decorating contest, a fun challenge where students and teachers are able to work together and decorate their class’s door based on the theme of celebrating literacy before having them judged, with a prize being awarded to the winning class.
Each door is judged on five specific categories that include visual impact, craftsmanship, completeness, originality/creativity and how well their door exemplified the week’s theme. Some classes chose a specific book as inspiration for their door, while others incorporated a lesson from the class or simply portrayed what the adventure of reading looked like to them.
“If you can impact just one student, then you’re making an impact,” PCHS teacher Jeannette Teeden said. “The door decorating is just to celebrate literacy in any way, shape, form that brings joy to you.”