Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools May/June 2016 | Page 16

Charlotte Hornets help bring the love of reading to Union Elementary The air sizzled with excitement as students at Union Elementary clapped and cheered while their teachers danced with Charlotte Hornets arena host Fly-Ty and Hornets’ mascot Hugo. The excitement came when Charlotte Hornets Book Bus rolled up to the school April 21st to help the school kick off its Reading EOG unit and to help students continue to build a love for reading. David Stogdill, the Hornets’ Manager of Literacy Programs, said research shows that music, a dynamic, high energy emcee like Fly-Ty, animated characters like Hugo and Air Mini Hugo, and having general fun help students learn. The Charlotte Hornets actively support education, Stogdill said, and attempt to go to as many schools as possible with our program and mobile library. “For me, it’s a way to show students the importance of reading in a different way,” Stogdill, a former elementary school teacher, said. “When I was teaching, I could talk till I was green in the face that it’s important to read every day. But if a funny, furry Hornet says it’s cool, they’ll think it’s cool as well.” Stogdill said they try to make the push for reading fun and entertaining. “When they go home maybe they’ll remember, ‘Oh, Hugo thinks it’s fun to read.” Union Elementary principal Jennifer Deaton said the Hornets bring with them a love of learning and a love of reading. “We’ve concentrated so hard this year to improve our students’ growth in reading,” Deaton said. “So this is like a culminating activity to celebrate their success and the work of the teachers because they’ve all been working very hard.” “We believe that literacy starts at a young age, that’s why we want to come out and inspire, encourage and empower the kids, letting them know that reading can not only change their lives, but it can help build a great future,” Fly-Ty said. “Reading is the foundation for everything they do in life.” About 30 students were chosen from the crowd to come onto the Hugo Book Bus, which is basically a library on wheels, and take home a book. Charlotte Hornets arena host Fly-Ty, at left, and Hornets’ mascot Air Mini Hugo, entertain about 375 students from Union Elementary School during the Hornet’s Literacy Program. Last year, the Hornets visited 190 schools, this year they will visit more than 200. They travel about 35 miles radius of Charlotte. —This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office. Focus Masters Focused on your future Test Prep- SAT, ACT, and AP Career Guidance - w/Skills Assessment College Placement & Admissions Counseling Tutoring - Elementary/Middle School Math & Reading - High School Math and Science thru AP Calc, AP Bio and AP Chem 704-619-4271 [email protected] All services available via Internet ww.focusmastersusa.com Caro Rolling Camp Send them where they want to go this summer... Roller Coasters and Water Slides...ages 10-17 Convenient bus pickup near your area. WWW.CAROROLLING.COM [email protected] • 704-287-9924 14 • May/June 2016 • Parent Teacher News