In The Know with Gino: OWL Fest Brings the Magic of Reading to Chattanooga’s Young Learners FOR FREE

Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), is set to bring the joy of reading to over 400 Pre-K through 5th grade students at Orchard Knob Elementary in Chattanooga. The event, known as Opportunities with Literacy (OWL) Fest, is a unique celebration of literacy aimed at fostering a love for reading among young minds.

Taking place on Thursday, September 28th, OWL Fest is a curated bookstore and shopping experience that has been made possible through federal funding. It’s designed to promote literacy in Priority schools statewide, including four schools within the Hamilton County School District.

At OWL Fest, these young readers will have the incredible opportunity to select books of their choice to take home, and the best part is that these books come at no cost to families or schools. This initiative is geared towards breaking down financial barriers and making literature accessible to all students.

James Pond, President of GELF, expressed his excitement, stating, “Through OWL Fest, we are bringing a book shopping experience, without the cost barrier, to students who may not have this kind of opportunity. We want to give students the freedom to choose their books, call them their own, and get excited about reading. It’s more than books. It’s the future of Tennessee.”

The importance of early literacy and the profound impact of increasing access to books will be highlighted at the event. Teachers, students, school district staff, and GELF representatives will be available for interviews to discuss the significance of this initiative.

Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, emphasized the crucial role literacy plays in a child’s education and beyond, saying, “Teaching children how to read, and how to read well, is one of the most important things we can do to set them up for success in their education, in college and career, and in life. Thanks to our partners at GELF, students across the state have access to free books through OWL Fest to help them become strong readers.”

Bailey Gibson, Community Forward School Coordinator at Orchard Knob Elementary School, expressed gratitude for being chosen as a host for OWL Fest. She said, “Our students show up every single day to be the very best they can be, despite the adversities they face on a daily basis. Their passion and eagerness to learn and grow is inspiring. Anything we can offer them to foster their love for reading and learning is exactly what we are all about!”

OWL Fest aims to address the literacy challenges faced by Tennessee, where only 40% of 3rd graders read proficiently, with Priority schools showing lower proficiency rates. Research has shown that the presence of a home library significantly boosts children’s academic success, vocabulary development, attention span, and job attainment. The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™: 8th Edition reveals that children are more likely to finish reading a book if they have chosen it themselves.

To bolster home libraries and enhance reading proficiency, GELF’s OWL Fest will distribute over 80,000 books to more than 10,000 students, teachers, and reading specialists across the state, free of charge.

The event is expected to be a heartwarming celebration of literacy and an opportunity for young readers to embark on exciting literary adventures of their own choosing.

Event Details:

• Who: GELF, in partnership with Hamilton County School District
• When: Thursday, Sept. 28 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
• Where: Orchard Knob Elementary, 2000 E 3rd St, Chattanooga, TN 37404

SOURCE: Hamilton County School District