Janet Balletta, AWA

  Florida celebrates Literacy Week from January 26 to 30th. This event raises awareness of the importance of making reading a daily routine for students and families. T he theme for this year is Read, white, and blue to honor America's  250th Anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence. It's a great time to dive into history to learn about two important presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In grades K-2 read, I am George Washington  and I am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer. Here  are five (5) Fun Facts for each president.  Another exciting activity is to have the kids  dress-up as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln or they can show their spirit by wearing  red, white, and blue.  George Washington Fun Facts: Born on February 22 in Virginia Chopped down a cherry and told the truth Fearless Army General for the U.S. in three (3) wars Picture on the quarter and dollar bill First person to sign the U.S. Constitution Abraham...

  The Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day , is also known as the Twelfth Day of Christmas. It’s celebrated on January 6th, marking the wise men’s journey to Bethlehem to pay homage to Jesus. Casper, Melchoir, and Balthazar bring baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold represents Jesus’ kingship and royalty, the frankincense symbolizes Jesus’ divinity and priesthood, and the myrrh, an expensive spice, points to Jesus’ burial. For some, the Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season. Others continue the celebrations until February 2nd for the Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas. In Hispanic and Latin American countries, it is a tradition for children to leave a shoe box under the Christmas tree for the wise men. The shoe box contains grass, black coffee, and a letter. The grass is for the hungry camels, black coffee for the tired wise men, and a letter of good behavior. The shoe box is left out on the night of January 5. The next morning the childr...