Petal Excel By 5

08/11/2026

07/29/2026

Mississippi summers are no joke — and our littlest ones (ages 0-5) feel the heat even faster than we do. A few reminders from your Petal Excel By 5 family:

💧 Hydrate often — offer water even before they ask 🧢 Hats + shade during outdoor play, especially midday 🚗 Never leave a child alone in a car, even for a minute 🌡️ Watch for warning signs: flushed skin, fussiness, or unusual sleepiness

Staying cool is part of keeping our kids healthy, happy, and ready to grow! Stay safe out there, Petal — and don't forget to check in on Excel By 5 for more tips and upcoming events for families with young children.

07/13/2026

Join us at the Kids Health Fair, happening today at First Baptist Church in Petal! 🎉 It’s going on all day until 4 PM — come out and check out all the great health resources and activities for kids. See you there!

07/07/2026

Summer is winding down, and that means one thing… school bells are about to ring again! 🍎📚 As you get your little ones ready for the new school year, remember that everyday moments count just as much as flashcards — reading a bedtime story, counting snacks at the table, or singing the alphabet in the car all build the skills they need to succeed. Here’s to a great year ahead!

06/26/2026

☀️📚 Beat the Heat with a Good Book! 📚☀️

When the Mississippi sun is blazing, the coolest place to be is curled up with a story! Summer is the perfect time to keep those little minds growing.

Grab a favorite book, find a cozy chair by the AC, and Read for 20 Minutes with your little one today. 🧊

Reading together every day builds the words, imagination, and love of learning your child will carry into kindergarten and beyond — all while staying cool and beating the heat! 💙

06/12/2026

📖✨ Inside. Outside. Sitting Up. Laying Down. YOU CAN READ EVERYWHERE! ✨📖

In the car. 🚗
On the porch. 🌿
In a cozy chair. 🪑
Flat on the floor. 😄
In the park! 🛝

There is NO wrong place to open a book with your child — and just 20 minutes a day is all it takes to change their world! 💛

We caught our very own Ms. Emily Branch, Principal at Petal Primary School, doing exactly that — taking story time OUTSIDE and reading with children right in the park! 🌞📚

Because reading doesn’t have to happen at a desk or before bedtime. It can happen anywhere, anytime, with anyone — and every single minute counts.

06/08/2026

🚔 Even Officer Conway knows — reading is serious business!

Petal Primary School’s very own resource officer, Officer Conway, understands that reading isn’t just for the classroom. It’s a skill you use every single day of your life. 📖

06/08/2026

📚 Reading is FUN — just ask Ms. Shrader and Mrs. Houpt!

These two love sharing their passion for books, and they have a challenge for you! 🎉

⏱️ Read for 20 Mississippi and see how much fun you can have!

🎥 Watch the video and let them inspire your little reader today!

👉 Can you do it? Read for 20 Mississippi tonight and drop a 🐊 in the comments when you do!

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06/07/2026

📚 Books teach more than words — they teach life!

Mrs. Davis and her student say it best: they choose books because the lessons inside go far beyond the page. Things like sharing, kindness, and caring for others are learned one story at a time. 🤝❤️

🎥 Watch the video and see why they love reading together!

👉 What life lesson did YOUR favorite childhood book teach you? Drop it in the comments!

06/06/2026

📚 Reading changes everything — and Ms. Smith explains why!

Even just a few minutes of reading each day builds your child’s vocabulary, imagination, and school readiness.

🎥 Watch the video below to hear Ms. Smith share why starting early makes ALL the difference!

👉 Tag a parent or grandparent who loves story time!