Heathwood Celebrates Literacy and Fun with PJ & Picture Book Day

A beloved Heathwood tradition, PJ & Picture Book Day kicked off with energy and excitement as students, faculty, and staff gathered for a morning full of stories, laughter, and community. The festivities began with a lively pep rally featuring special guest readers: USC Women’s Basketball Coach Dawn Staley and Heathwood Athletic Director Brionna Zimmerman. The surprise appearance of Pete the Cat—also known as Coach Zimmerman—brought even more fun to the event, much to the delight of the students.

The celebration continued with more familiar faces, as Chris Hinchey, Head of School, and Liz Summers, Assistant Head of Finance and Operations, joined in the festivities by reading to the young learners. After the pep rally, students headed to their classrooms for even more story time fun, complete with cookies, milk, and special readings from campus celebrities and parent volunteers.

PJ & Picture Book Day is more than just a fun tradition; it’s a celebration of the South Carolina Book Award nominees, with a focus on picture books that captivate young minds. Over the next few weeks, students will have the opportunity to enjoy all the nominated books before casting their votes for their favorites. From the library to the classrooms, the excitement of reading and voting will engage students across all grade levels.

“This event highlights the power of picture books for readers of all ages,” said Megan Dhar, Head of Early Childhood and Lower School. “Picture books open doors to new ideas and perspectives. They provide stories that reflect our children’s lives and experiences, while also offering opportunities to make connections to themselves, other texts, and the world around them. These connections are the foundation of our Lower School mastery projects, which help our students develop research, critical thinking, and synthesis skills—tools they will carry with them throughout their academic journeys.”

Thanks to a generous gift, this year’s event saw an expanded selection of brand-new titles for teachers to introduce to their students, further enriching the experience. The positive impact of PJ & Picture Book Day extends beyond the classroom, fostering a love of reading while strengthening essential literacy skills that will benefit students for years to come.

A BIG Highlander thank you goes out to everyone who made PJ & Picture Book Day such a success, from the guest readers to the volunteers and supporters who helped bring this event to life. We look forward to seeing which books the students choose as their favorites—and to the many more reading adventures to come!

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