Scholastic Donation: Harlan Elementary

Today, First Lady Dianne Bentley traveled to Florence to visit with the students, faculty, and staff of Harlan Elementary. As soon as she walked in the door, she was greeted by smiling faces and taken on a tour of the facilities. Mrs. Bentley was impressed by the cleanliness and beauty found throughout the school and by the students' excitement for learning.
At the school-wide assembly, the First Lady shared her love of books starting from when she was a child to now. She talked about getting books with her parents that told the biographies of famous figures in history. After, she answered questions ranging from what is it like to live in the Governor's Mansion to what were you like in second grade. Mrs. Bentley gave open and honest answers that made everyone in the crowd laugh. Then she read a book titled Emma Jo's Song. This book was written by an Alabama author and shares the story of a young girl going to her family's reunion. At the end, the entire school joined together to sing "This Little Light of Mine."
The principal concluded the assembly by presenting the First Lady with a gift basket of Alabama products found in the Florence area, as well as a t-shirt from the school so that she would always remember her visit.
Mrs. Bentley is again, thankful to Scholastic for donating books to the state of Alabama. Their generous donation has been the source of smiling faces, happy schools, and learning success. She hopes to join with them again in the future as they continue to encourage lifelong learning.