By: Peggy Jackson

For the past 20 years, Haywood County has been a “Reading Is Fundamental” community! This means the Haywood County Family Resource Centers have raised funds to allow all elementary students to choose three free books to keep! The Family Resource Centers are a team effort of UT Extension and Haywood County Schools.

This year’s theme – “SOAR – BE MORE” – encouraged students to be their very best by doing 3 things: READ every day; eat healthy food; and exercise daily. With “SUPERMAN” as our inspiring mascot for the “Book Jams”, students at Anderson, Haywood Elementary, and East Side took the challenge. Students chose their own books from topics or series they were interested in reading.

For students in grades 1-5, a brain model was on display and a power-point presentation showed how each part of the brain grows when you read. We learned that reading is so important for all children because reading is actually “food” for the brain. Without reading, parts of the brain may not develop to reach its greatest potential! The Family Resource Centers strongly encourage parents to promote reading in their homes every day.

Students at Anderson were excited to learn about “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” garden coming to their school. This garden, thanks to the C3 “BE MORE” grant from UT Extension, means that all elementary schools and Haywood Middle School now have gardens for their students to learn the science of growing fresh vegetables!

To contribute to the “Book Jam” project in memory or honor of someone, please contact Peggy Jackson at UT Extension at 772-2861 or visit The Family Resource Centers at Anderson and Haywood Elementary Schools. All money is used to purchase new quality books for the students of Haywood County Schools.

By: Peggy Jackson

For the past 20 years, Haywood County has been a “Reading Is Fundamental” community! This means the Haywood County Family Resource Centers have raised funds to allow all elementary students to choose three free books to keep! The Family Resource Centers are a team effort of UT Extension and Haywood County Schools.

This year’s theme – “SOAR – BE MORE” – encouraged students to be their very best by doing 3 things: READ every day; eat healthy food; and exercise daily. With “SUPERMAN” as our inspiring mascot for the “Book Jams”, students at Anderson, Haywood Elementary, and East Side took the challenge. Students chose their own books from topics or series they were interested in reading.

For students in grades 1-5, a brain model was on display and a power-point presentation showed how each part of the brain grows when you read. We learned that reading is so important for all children because reading is actually “food” for the brain. Without reading, parts of the brain may not develop to reach its greatest potential! The Family Resource Centers strongly encourage parents to promote reading in their homes every day.

Students at Anderson were excited to learn about “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” garden coming to their school. This garden, thanks to the C3 “BE MORE” grant from UT Extension, means that all elementary schools and Haywood Middle School now have gardens for their students to learn the science of growing fresh vegetables!

To contribute to the “Book Jam” project in memory or honor of someone, please contact Peggy Jackson at UT Extension at 772-2861 or visit The Family Resource Centers at Anderson and Haywood Elementary Schools. All money is used to purchase new quality books for the students of Haywood County Schools.