Jan. 8 marked the 30th anniversary of Carmen Sandiego Day, an event first established in the 80s when teachers and students dressed up and played games as characters from the successful computer game. To celebrate "Carmen Day," we hosted an event with Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida—livestreamed nationwide. Students were introduced to the new voice of Carmen, Gina Rodriguez, and to the Netflix series. HMH CEO Jack Lynch kicked things off alongside Alberto Carvalho, the school district's superintendent, and invited Gina onstage to talk about her personal connection to Carmen.
“When I was your age, she was my world. She was my hero, and now I get to be her,” Gina called out to the enthusiastic crowd of students as they waved flags representing various countries from around the world.
The voice of Carmen @HereIsGina takes the stage in Miami! #FollowTheFedora pic.twitter.com/m1Hz1KJGBs
— Houghton Mifflin (@HMHCo) January 8, 2019
Gina shared what it meant to her to become the voice of Carmen Sandiego and then led students in a competition and geography-based quiz show inspired by the original Carmen Day games. To cap the event, attendees were shown early clips of the upcoming Netflix series.
More than 1,700 students attended in Miami. Meanwhile, schools across the country were encouraged to create their own classroom events, dedicated to cultural awareness and inquiry-based learning, before tuning in to the live event.
Where in the 🌍 is #CarmenSandiego?#FollowtheFedora Thanks @HMHCo and @HereIsGina for helping our students spend an amazing morning of #learning pic.twitter.com/Xamoyftomh
— Div of Academics (@MDCPSAcademics) January 8, 2019
East 4th graders received a fedora or CSD Funko Pop for participating in Carmen San Diego Day. #FollowTheFedora #FairfieldEastElementary pic.twitter.com/NcNRaecMg5
— Debi Freimuth (@mamafrei) January 8, 2019
Where in the 🌎 is Carmen SanDiego?! #followthefedora #carmensandiego pic.twitter.com/Lr5w9yVLlM
— Katie Howell (@KHowell1231) January 8, 2019
We are ready! #followthefedora #CarmenSandiego @LeadAndLearn pic.twitter.com/c35kE4rcxs
— Mrs. AkaAwesome (@Akauola3rdGrade) January 8, 2019
Welcoming @MDCPS students from all around the world to @CarmenSandiego Day. #FollowtheFedora #CarmenSanDiego pic.twitter.com/Y95MZxJY2E
— Miami Dade Schools (@MDCPS) January 8, 2019
A part of my childhood is coming to life in our classroom! Happy Carmen Sandiego day!! We are participating in a nationwide live event celebrating the super sleuth and geography and culture of course! #SCEsoars #followthefedora pic.twitter.com/y0XPGcePs3
— Mrs. Melton's Class (@SCEMrsMelton) January 8, 2019
Tuning in from Long Island, New York and testing our Geography knowledge!! Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego!? @HMHCo @teamhillside #followthefedora #CarmenSandiego #hmh pic.twitter.com/RdOzdchQ1V
— Ms. Hansen (@MsHansen10) January 8, 2019
Ms. Etnier’s morning class participated in @CarmenSandiego Day! We followed along with the livestream to answer geography questions as well as followed our own clues using our Social Studies book. Where in the world are the best students? HERE! #FollowTheFedora #CarmenSandiego pic.twitter.com/7kRyPzzdv4
— Paul V Fly Elementary School (@PVFElementary) January 8, 2019
Livestream with #carmensandiego @HowellTwpNewbry #followthefedora #ProjectGOAL pic.twitter.com/FEYV0HyMx9
— Kelley Gilligan (@KelleyGilligan) January 8, 2019
Local media also got in on the celebrations in Miami, including Roxanne Vargas from NBC6 News and the Miami Herald.
Kind and caring. Compassionate and passionate. Inclusive and inspiring. Funny and fierce! Thank you @HereIsGina for being such a bright star in this world! I can’t wait hear your voice bring #CarmenSandiego into 2019 on Jan 18! #fiercefemale #orgulloLatina #followthefedora pic.twitter.com/ajn7DZkHqp
— Roxanne Vargas (@RoxyNBC6) January 8, 2019
Where is Carmen Sandiego? In Miami, where actress Gina Rodriguez visits with students https://t.co/2VCyO6Y03g pic.twitter.com/gRridQDRML
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) January 8, 2019
Our HMH staff are so excited for a new generation of learners to fall in love with Carmen Sandiego, just like we did.
Carmen Sandiego Day has begun! We’re starting off with @MiamiSup and @jacklynch_ and the school spirit is off the charts! #FollowTheFedora pic.twitter.com/UmBRzHY5WH
— Houghton Mifflin (@HMHCo) January 8, 2019
Thanks to the @MDCPS students, @MiamiSup, and all those participating across the country! A special thanks to @HereIsGina for being an amazing host! Stay tuned for more details on @CarmenSandiego, premiering Jan. 18 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/fjSG6LAqrw
— Houghton Mifflin (@HMHCo) January 8, 2019
I had a blast at Carmen Sandiego Day! Miami students were joyful, energetic, and knowledgeable! #FollowTheFedora #CarmenSandiego pic.twitter.com/92YrYR66j8
— Geraldine Stevens (@_GStevens) January 9, 2019
Carmen Sandiego in the HMH Corporate house! #followthefedora pic.twitter.com/FYqqMmAlZZ
— Donald McBurney (@HMHDon) January 8, 2019
#FollowTheFedora #homebased We ❤️ you Gina Rodriguez!!!! Carmen Sandiego!! pic.twitter.com/SdqeXGeUel
— Carla Dorzweiler (@HMHCarla) January 8, 2019
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Who knows! But if you missed her in Miami, you can still catch up here.
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Get your students ready for the new Carmen Sandiego Netflix series using these resources. Celebrate Carmen Sandiego Day in your classroom: Host your own Carmen quiz show, create class maps, travel the world on Google Earth™, and more!
You can also follow Carmen Sandiego on Twitter and Facebook. #FollowTheFedora
