Once again Parents’ Coalition was honored to be invited to the Department of Education’s annual summer event, Let’s Read! Let’s Move! which took place this past week, on July 10th. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted special guests White House Chef Samuel Kass, Olympian Figure Skater Michelle Kwan, and Congressman John Kline (R-MN), Chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Secretary Duncan, Chef Kass, and Congressman Kline all took turns reading Picky Peggy, by Jennifer Dussling. Ms. Kwan read, Can I Play Too? written by Mo Willems. Afterwards it was question time. To Chef Kass: Does the President like candy? Answer: ‘That is a tough question. The President does not eat a lot of candy. But it’s ok to eat some candy if you eat a lot of fruit.’
World champion figure skater Michelle Kwan talked about how she began ice skating. She said she started when she was five years old. She would practice five hours a day. She said, ‘to make your dreams come true—it takes a lot of hard work.’
Special Guest Kathy Powers, an advocate for children’s nutrition, was also on hand, showing how to read a recipe and how to make fruit salsa.
After reading and talking about the books, we all went to play games like relay races, and basketball, and ran the obstacle course. Thanks again to the folks at Target, who provided books and extras so that all the kids could choose a book to take home, and receive a backpack with snacks and treats. A special shout-out to Target, which is focused on early learning and reading.
A good time was had by all. Thanks as always to Michelle Draughn and Juliette Rizzo for working so hard to organize this event and get the message across to our children: Let’s Read! And Let’s Move!
