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Dr. Maria Vazquez: Hello. I'm Maria Vasquez, Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. I'm here with a few of my new friends for a special holiday edition of Mondays with Maria. I was just reading this great children's book written by local meteorologist and author Amy Sweezy; it's called It Never Ever Snows in Florida. My new friends are from OCPS ACE, and they are in the first grade. Please stay with us because there's a surprise at the end. Are you ready?
We're going to finish reading the book. It does get cold in Florida. Sometimes AJ sees frost on the grass and on his mom's car window. Sometimes he can see his breath when he talks. Sometimes he has to wear a warm coat and mittens to school, but when it gets cold in Florida, it doesn't last long. AJ has never seen a whole pile of snow in Florida. It never ever snows in Florida. One day, AJ's mom took him to the library to read about the times it has snowed in Florida. They found stories of snowflakes falling from the Florida sky. They saw pictures of snow covering the ground in north Florida. AJ's mom showed him that it has snowed in Florida in the past and it may snow again in the future, but snow in Florida is very rare. You can't say it never snows in Florida, said AJ's mom, because every so often it does. So even though AJ has never seen snow in Florida, he now knows sometimes it does snow in Florida. The end.
Did everyone like the book? Before we leave, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Winter break begins Monday, December 19, and school returns for the second semester, Wednesday, January 4. I hope parents, grandparents, and guardians take some time over the next few weeks to read to their children and let their children read to them. It's so important to keep their brain actively engaged in learning and reading.
Okay, I said there would be a surprise, so here it goes. Does it really never, ever snow in Florida? I don't know. Happy holidays everyone.
Children: Yeah, it's, it's, it's snowing.