Most local schools have found ways to celebrate education this week for the 88th annual American Education Week, Nov. 15-19.

The annual theme is “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility.” The National Education Association sponsors the event each year in hopes that it will inform people about the Association’s dedication to providing students with quality public schools to help students reach full potential.

Katie Blair, an English teacher and American Education Week committee person for Selma High School, encourages parents to find ways to involve themselves in the activities the schools are offering this week.

“It’s my wish that the friends, parents and grandparents could see that list and get involved with it this week,” Blair said. “It is special for them too. We want that parent participation. We want parents to be visible in the classroom.”

Here are the events for the remainder of the week, listed by participating school:

Byrd Elementary: Parents are invited to eat lunch with their students any day of the week. Please call ahead to inform the office.

Cedar Park Elementary: Wednesday is recognition day for support personnel and fifth grade students will sing for their parents at 1 p.m. Thursday retired teachers are invited to lunch and Friday current teachers will be celebrated.

Clark Elementary: Retired teachers and dignitaries from the community will read to students and eat lunch with students. Board members are invited to each lunch with students on Thursday.

Edgewood Elementary: The school will kick off the reading rally on Friday at 9 a.m. with people from the community visiting to read to the students.

Knox Elementary: All staff will receive apple frames on Wednesday, retired teachers are invited to a luncheon on Thursday and faculty and staff is invited to a luncheon on Friday.

Meadowview Elementary: Announcements have been made all week to make children aware of American Education Week. Support personnel will receive gifts and substitute teachers will receive handmade cards by mail from students.

Payne Elementary School: Parents are invited to eat lunch with their children and retired teachers will be honored on Thursday.

Phoenix Alternative Program: The school is displaying posters in the halls encouraging education and learning.

Selma High School: Students can participate in an essay-writing contest on “The Importance of a High School Education” and a letter-writing contest defining a teacher who has inspired them the most at Selma High School. Parents are invited to visit classrooms during the school day on Wednesday. Thursday is “Dress for Success” day. Students are invited to wear school spirited items, for any school or college, on Friday. The winners for both writing contests will be announced at an assembly with Mr. Coleman, of Calhoun Foods and a Selma High School graduate, on Friday.

Sophia P. Kingston Elementary: Wednesday is support staff appreciation day. Retired teachers are invited to lunch on Thursday. Friday is school spirit day. Students are asked to wear their regular pants with school spirited shirt of their choice, whether elementary, high or college items.

B. K. Craig Elementary: Wednesday is support staff appreciation day and students are allowed to wear hats if they donate one dollar to help raise money for cancer treatment. Parents are invited to eat lunch with their student on Thursday. Friday is student appreciation day, and the winner of the student essay contest on the topic “why should I be an educator for a day?” will shadow a teacher or administrator of their choice for the day.

Five Pointes Elementary School: Wednesday is support staff appreciation day. Parents are invited to a Thanksgiving luncheon on Thursday for parent appreciation day. Students will attend an assembly on Friday to commemorate the week, and listen to a presentation on bullying.

J. E. Terry: Parents are invited to a Thanksgiving lunch with their students on Wednesday, also known as school is cool day. Thursday is professional support and teacher appreciation day. Friday is school spirit day and a teaching exchange day.

Keith High School: Wednesday is education professionals support day, Thursday is substitute appreciation day and Friday is teacher appreciation day and educator for a day, a day when students can work with teachers for the day.

Martin Middle: Retired teachers will receive a gift bag and lunch on Wednesday. Thursday is the spelling bee competition and essay and poster winners will be announced. Friday is student and teacher appreciation day. Students will write thank you notes to teachers on Friday as well.

Salem Elementary School: Wednesday is volunteer and substitute appreciation day. Thursday is parent appreciation day and parents are invited to a dinner with their students. Friday is staff appreciation day and staff will have a breakfast that morning for them.

Valley Grande Elementary: Wednesday is dress for future profession day, Thursday is dress for success day and Friday is school spirit day. Thursday is Community Members, Partners in Education Day, Retired Teachers & Staff, Parent, and Administrator Appreciation Day. All of the mentioned people are invited to come and eat lunch with the students.

[The remaining schools are either not participating or were not able to send a listing of events in time.]