Helena Intermediate School held Read-a-thon Pajama Party Day on Friday, November 1.  Staff and students wore pajamas and listened to mystery and guest readers share books with them throughout the day.

The following people visited the school to be guest readers:

• Dan Dearing, Helena Library director
• Leah Ann Lowe, Coordinator of Strategic Planning and Leadership – Shelby County Schools
• Heather Mays, Supervisor of Library Media and Fine Arts – Shelby County Schools
• Mayor Mark Hall – City of Helena
• Officer Lowery – Helena School Resource Officer
• Don Hawes – Alabama’s 13 Sports
• Michelle Hall, Middle School/Secondary Program Area Specialist, Shelby County Schools
• Jeff Speegle – ABC33/40 Sports
• Tara Baldwin, Elementary Program Area Specialist, K-5 Language Arts – Shelby County Schools
• Brad Radice, Director of Media Relations – Samford University

Mystery readers were invited by each classroom teacher.  Students had to guess who was visiting through daily clues that were given to them.  Mystery readers included members of the military, parents, and CBS 42 news anchor, Stephen  Hauck, who featured the students of Ms. Ashlee Elliott’s class during the evening news that night.

Every class also wrote thank-you letters and cards to military personnel serving overseas.  This project was coordiated by parent, Amanda Warram, and is part of “The Big Thank You” sponsored by radio show, The Bert Show.

The school also partnered with LifeSouth to hold a blood drive from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   The school collected more than 80 units of blood, beating last year’s donation of 62 units.