HCSO to Host 2nd Annual Read Across America Event for Area Homeschoolers
HCSO Personnel to Visit Area Public Schools to Read March 2nd – 6th
Hamilton County, TN - Each year, public schools across America celebrate the importance of literacy on National Reading Day. This year, National Reading Day will be Monday, March 2nd. During this time, elected officials, public servants, and other community stakeholders will visit local public and private schools all over our nation and our community to read to students. Unfortunately, homeschooled and non-school aged children do not always have this opportunity.
In order to help ensure this important community of children are included, on Friday, February 28th from 10:00 am – noon, the HCSO will host a reading event at our West Patrol Annex located at 6233 Dayton Boulevard especially for our local homeschool and non-school age children to come and be read to by Sheriff Hammond and members of the HCSO.
During this time, snacks will be provided by our local Signal Mountain Walmart and each child will receive a free children’s book courtesy of the Hamilton County READ 20 Program while supplies last. Children will also receive HCSO coloring books, crayons, and a Junior Deputy Badge. After the reading event, the HCSO K-9 Unit and UAS Division (Drone) will offer a demonstration along with a small touch-a-truck area.
Any homeschooled or non-school aged child is welcome to attend as long as a parent or guardian is present.
Local media representatives are welcome and encouraged to attend the homeschool reading event this Friday. If you have any questions, please email Public Relations Manager Matt Lea at jlea@hcsheriff.gov. A flyer is attached below.
In addition to the homeschool event above, the HCSO will also be visiting six local public schools and private schools to read to students during the week of March 2nd – 6th.
The location and times for the HCSO’s readings are below:
Hillcrest Elementary
March 2, 2020
9:00 am – 10:00 am
4302 Bonny Oaks Drive
Clifton Hills Elementary
March 2, 2020
11:00 am – 12:00 Noon
1815 East 32nd Street
Lakeside Academy
March 2, 2020
1:20 pm – 2:30 pm
4850 Jersey Pike
Signal Centers, Inc.
March 3, 2020
11:00 am – 12:00 Noon
109 North Germantown Road
(Private Organization)
Brown Academy
March 5, 2020
12:00 Noon – 12:50 pm
718 East 8th Street
DuPont Elementary School
March 5, 2020
9:45 am – 10:45 am
4134 Hixson Pike
Local media are welcome to visit these HCDE schools during these time slots above to get footage of HCSO personnel reading to the children and opportunities for interviews will be available.
However, reporters must notify HCDE PIO Tim Hensley prior to the visit to ensure the media’s entry is coordinated with the individual school administration.
Mr. Hensley can be emailed at Hensley_t@hcde.org or via phone at 423-498-7043.
Reporters covering the reading(s) should arrive at the school approximately 15 minutes early, check in with the school office, and abide by all HCDE media protocols.
As Signal Centers is a private organization not operated by the HCDE, any media wishing to visit this reading should contact the facility directly at 423-698-8528 for entry protocol and approval.
