Bay Haven school shares story time with the mayor

The students of Bay Haven School of Basics Plus love to take a shark-sized bite out of a good book. And they have the hats to prove it.

In the annual observance of Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida, fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom for story time on Jan. 24.

The Florida Department of Education initiated this statewide event to inspire students and their families to make reading part of their daily routines. This year’s theme: "Take A Deep Dive Into Literacy."

Battie stopped by Bay Haven School of Basics Plus, Sarasota County’s only public elementary magnet school, to read to Schwaed’s class. 

“Reading is such an essential part of education,” Battie said. “There are a lot of things and experiences in reading that you can get.” 

Battie introduced himself to the class and answered questions the students were eager to ask. After the brief Q&A, Battie sat on the rocking chair in front of the classroom. 

Forty-seven students wore handmade shark hats as they listened attentively to Battie read "A Sick Day for Amos McGee." 

“We are all in shark hats because we are taking a bite out of a great book,” Schwaed said. “If they (the students) hear books being read aloud by other people such as the mayor, I think this helps them understand that reading is so important.”