May 14, 2012

First Lady Georganne Nixon visits Hannah Cole Primary in Boonville to kick off summer reading challenge

BOONVILLE, Mo. - First Lady Georganne Nixon today visited with students, teachers and staff at Hannah Cole Primary in Boonville to promote the importance of children reading books over the summer break. Mrs. Nixon, a Reading Ambassador in the 2012 Scholastic Summer Challenge, read to a group of first-grade students, who then, along with other students, received donated books to read over the summer.

First Lady Georganne Nixon today visited with students, teachers and staff at Hannah Cole Primary in Boonville to promote the importance of children reading books over the summer break.

"Reading opens so many doors of both education and enjoyment for children," Mrs. Nixon said. "Summer is an ideal time for children to practice reading skills. I encourage parents, teachers and students across Missouri to meet the Summer Challenge, so that children stay enthusiastic about reading even while they're out of school."

Mrs. Nixon read We're Making Breakfast for Mother, written by Shirley Neitzel and illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker, to a group of about 90 first-grade students at the school. The First Lady also visited with kindergarten and second-grade students and teachers.

As part of the Summer Challenge, Scholastic Corporation donated 500 books to Hannah Cole students to provide them with reading material for the summer. Research studies have demonstrated the importance of summer reading as an opportunity for students to continue learning and development when not in school. This is the fourth year that Mrs. Nixon, who has taught in Missouri public schools, has served as a Reading Ambassador for the Scholastic program.