Second annual holiday open house event at the Tennessee Residence begins
                          
NASHVILLE – Governor and First Lady Haslam will host their second annual “Tennessee’s Home for the Holidays,” an Open House event available to all Tennesseans to tour the holiday decorations at the executive residence during the first two weeks in December.

This year’s holiday décor theme, “Tennessee Music,” was accomplished through partnerships with the Museum of Appalachia in East Tennessee, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Middle Tennessee, and Stax Museum in West Tennessee. Authentic pieces and reproductions from the museums’ collections were incorporated into the holiday decorations to represent Tennessee’s rich musical heritage. The museum pieces were supplemented with complimenting ornaments and decoration support from Jim Marvin, based in Dickson, Tennessee.  Marvin is known internationally for his holiday design and has assisted in decorating the White House for the holidays since 1997.

A statewide initiative to create awareness for healthy early child development and parent practices, as well as mentorship opportunities for young parents

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam today met with women from the faith-based community at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville to help launch the Knoxville Chapter of First Ladies for Healthy Babies.

More than 150 First Ladies and leading ladies of churches in the Knoxville area attended the event to learn more about healthy early child development and parent practices, as well as mentorship opportunities for young parents in their community.

“First Ladies and leading ladies of churches are in a great position to raise awareness for the importance of healthy early development and ensuring that parents are their child’s first and most important teacher,” said Haslam. “Often these young parents go to leaders in the faith-based community as a trusted resource within their community.”

Reading event to promote the importance of reading at least 20 minutes each day

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam visited with more than 100 Hickman Elementary School 3rd graders today to encourage their participation in the Read20 Family Book Club.  Mrs. Haslam read Winnie-the-Pooh, the November Read20 Book of the Month, to students and donated books to the school library.  
 
Launched on June 2012, the Read20 Family Book Club was created to highlight the importance of early literacy and parental engagement in children’s academic lives, encouraging Tennessee families to read together for at least 20 minutes each day.

“Literacy can be the single-most important skill for children to be successful in school,” said Haslam. “Families have an opportunity to promote academic success when they work with their child’s school to encourage reading and reinforce learning in the home.”

Halloween reading event at the Tennessee Residence to encourage book club participation  

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam hosted approximately 70 Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary 3rd graders at the Tennessee Residence today to encourage their participation in the Read20 Family Book Club.  
 
Located less than one mile from the Tennessee Residence, Mrs. Haslam joined Glendale Elementary students, teachers, faculty, and parents in walking to the Tennessee Residence for the Halloween reading event. The students wore costumes and enjoyed a story from A.J. Hartley’s fantasy novel Darwin Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact, the October Read20 Book of the Month, and Halloween treats.

First Lady Haslam releases a report on the impact of meaningful academic partnerships at 2012 MNPS Parent Engagement Summit in Nashville

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam today announced the release of Parental Engagement in Tennessee: A Report on the Impact of Meaningful Academic Partnerships at the 2012 MNPS Parent Engagement Summit. The event was attended by more than 300 MNPS teachers, administrators, parents, and representatives from local community organizations.

As part of the First Lady’s initiative, Haslam spent the 2011-2012 school year visiting schools across the state to learn from principals, teachers, students, and parents about the value of parent and community engagement in education and literacy development. Presented by the Office of the First Lady, the report compiles much of the information gathered during the First Lady’s School Partnerships and highlights the importance of schools and families working together to support student learning.

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam will speak at the 2012 MNPS Parent Engagement Summit on Friday. The purpose of the summit is to provide a call to action and an opportunity for school based staff to receive training and to engage in cross-departmental conversations about the needs, challenges, and opportunities in reaching out and partnering with parents across the district.

First Lady Crissy Haslam hosts a Read20 Family Book Club event for children and families at the festival

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam hosted a Read20 Family Book Club promotional event today at the 24th Annual Southern Festival of Books. Mrs. Haslam read A.J. Hartley’s Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact, the October Book of the Month, to children at the event and encouraged book club participation, asking families to read together for at least 20 minutes each day. Mr. Hartley joined Mrs. Haslam for the event by reading and talking about his book.

“It was very special to have Mr. Hartley, the author of this month’s Book of the Month, join us in promoting the Read20 Family Book Club today,” said Mrs. Haslam. “Fostering a love for reading and encouraging the joy of literature in children is very important. The book club helps families enjoy reading time together, so that children understand the importance of literacy early in life.” 

Event at Karns Elementary School in Knoxville to help create excitement for reading

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam participated in Karns Elementary School’s record-breaking read-in today to emphasize the importance of reading. Mrs. Haslam joined special guests from the community and more than 1,300 Karns Elementary students and teachers to help break Universal Record Database’s record for the largest audience in attendance at a children's storybook reading.
 
“It is important to keep students enthusiastic about reading, because literacy is the foundation for academic success,” Mrs. Haslam said. “Today's event is a great example of ways schools and communities can come together to highlight the importance of reading.”

First Lady Crissy Haslam promotes Imagination Library and READ20 Family Book Club in Rutherford, Bedford, Marshall, Maury and Cheatham counties
 
NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam concluded her August statewide swing to promote the Imagination Library and her READ20 Family Book Club today with stops in Rutherford, Bedford, Marshall, Maury and Cheatham counties.

As part of her initiative to encourage early literacy and parental engagement in children’s academic lives, Mrs. Haslam attended events in Rutherford and Bedford counties to promote their local Imagination Library, a program that puts free, high-quality, age-appropriate books in the hands of registered Tennessee children statewide. Mrs. Haslam also visited libraries in Marshall and Maury counties and the Cheatham County Fair to encourage participation in her READ20 Family Book Club, a program encouraging Tennessee families to read together for at least 20 minutes each day.

NASHVILLE –First Lady Crissy Haslam will conclude her August statewide sweep to promote the Imagination Library program and her READ20 Family Book Club in Middle Tennessee tomorrow.

As part of her initiative to promote early literacy and the importance of parental engagement in children’s academic lives, Mrs. Haslam will visit Rutherford and Bedford counties to encourage support for the Imagination Library, a program that puts free, high-quality, age-appropriate books in the hands of registered Tennessee children statewide. Mrs. Haslam will also make visits to libraries in Marshall and Maury counties and the Cheatham County Fair to encourage participation in her READ20 Family Book Club, a program she launched earlier this summer to encourage Tennessee families to read together for at least 20 minutes each day.