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On Monday, October 18, Rufus Lynx and Bobcats Dance Team members, along with the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Tarradiddle Players, visited Double Oaks Pre-K Afterschool Program promoting Read to Achieve Week with a “Reading Timeout.” The Tarradiddle Players performed Tarradiddle Travels to a group of 50 four-year olds. Tarradiddle Travels takes you around the world with four favorite folk tales from several different countries. The tales include The Donkey Ride, Mouse Marriage, Cricket Song and Caps for Sale. The kids were amused by the actors funny animations and hilarious stories! Following the performance, two dance team members asked questions about the play and recited the Read to Achieve pledge with the kids. Rufus Lynx and Jingles (the Children’s Theatre mascot) took pictures and entertained everyone.
The Bobcats Book Drive, on Thursday, October 21, featured appearances by players Jason Hart, Emeka Okafor and Jason Kapono, along with mascot Rufus Lynx and The Bobcats Dance Team members at the Harris YMCA Teen Center. Kapono and Hart read two books to the over 200 children in attendance, while Jeff Johnson from WJZY emceed the Reading Timeout. Bobcats' Director of Player Programs Dell Curry joined Hart to read Disney’s "Monsters, Inc." The kids were familiar with the book because so many had seen the movie! Following Monsters, Inc., Kapono read "The Night I Followed the Dog" by Nina Laden. As Kapono read the story, the animations in the book were projected on a screen for the children to see. After the books were finished, Jeff Johnson led the crowd in the Read to Achieve pledge.
After the Reading Timeout, Hart, Kapono, Okafor and three Bobcats dance team members signed autographs for the kids who participated in the Reading Timeout, as well as anyone who donated a new children’s book to the Bobcats Book Drive. Rufus Lynx and BB Sting used silly-string to entertain the kids. All books collected will be sent to local YMCAs, schools and other youth organizations in the Charlotte area.
On Friday, October 22, the Bobcats and 150 students at Ebenezer Elementary School in Rock Hill, SC celebrated the upcoming Fall season with a Fall Festival-themed Reading Timeout. The room was decorated with scarecrows, hay bails, pumpkins and all types of decorations. Students at the school were allowed to attend the Reading Timeout for earning a certain number of Accelerated Reader points. Jeff Johnson and Dell Curry read Wild About Books to the students. Then, Laura Baxter (a local performer) acted out the book "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything." Several students were chosen to participate and help Ms. Baxter with her performance.
After the reading was complete and the Read to Achieve pledge had been recited by all, the kids broke up into three stations and decorated pumpkins. Then, Curry and Johnson chose the top 3 pumpkins in the school! The three winners won tickets to an upcoming Bobcats game.
The Bobcats extended Read to Achieve Week when they hosted area middle school students at the Cool School Field Trip on October 26. The Cool School Field trip is a unique educational experience geared to promote literacy, academic achievement and citizenship. Over 15,000 students attended the event as guests of the Bobcats. The Cool School Field Trip featured a day of learning revolving around a preseason game between the Bobcats and Miami Heat.
Read to Achieve is a year-round campaign developed by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of sports.
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