May 18, 2023 -- When we think of literacy, we often think only of reading books. But there is also math literacy, financial literacy, and socio-emotional literacy. All of these topics and more will be covered at Roxboro Middle School’s Literacy Night on May 24.
Organized by Title 1 Literacy Lead Anna Gregory, the event will be open to all students and their families and will feature presentations by local authors, resource tables for parents, a dinner of walking tacos, and even karaoke. Wakanda imagery will be interwoven throughout the event, titled “Wakanda - The Courage to Read.”
As an “all hands on deck” type of evening, there will be representatives from a local bank to speak with families about financial literacy, as well as representatives from the Heights Libraries signing students up for library cards and summer programming. Media Specialist Deborah Rowinski will be giving away library books, while social studies teacher Yolanda Harris will host a “tea talk” for students who want to discuss what they are reading with their peers.
Project Lead the Way teacher Amy Statler will have take-home bags with engineering projects, MetroHealth will have resources on adolescent mental health, the Minority Student Achievement Network will have kindness activities, and building staff will host math and literacy games. The Parent Teacher Association, guidance counselors, representatives from Mobius (formerly RoxArts), and – of course – TJ the Tiger will all be present.
Every child who attends will have the opportunity to select a brand new book for their home library, and every parent will receive a copy of So You’re Having a Teenager: An A-Z Guide to Adolescence, perfect for those who have outgrown their copies of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
In addition to a fun dinner of make-your-own walking tacos, attendees will have the chance to win raffle prizes including backpacks filled with school supplies for next fall. Ms. Gregory is excited to welcome local authors including Heights High art teacher Jerome White, her own daughter Randall Gregory, and Amber Hawthorne-Spratlen, who recently attended Oxford’s Literacy Night.
The event will be held in the middle school auditorium and first floor gym on Wednesday, May 24 from 5:30-7pm.
