MIAMI, August 8th – In an effort to help ease the nervousness of the beginning of a new school year, Miami HEAT players Dorell Wright, Wayne Simien, and Earl Barron along with Burnie and the Xtreme Team set their alarms bright and early right along with the students of Riverside Elementary.

From 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., members of the HEAT pulled out the red carpet, similar to the acclaimed ‘Red Carpet’ player introduction, to welcome back the students. Instead of the players, the students and faculty were the stars of the show. Wright, Simien and Barron led the HEAT in handing out pencil packs, folders, book bags and other school supplies, supplied by the HEAT and FedEx, to the students and teachers as they entered the building. Immediately following the red carpet presentation, the HEAT players took part in a special “Welcome Back” morning announcement to the school through closed circuit TV.

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Riverside Elementary, host of the HEAT Academy program, was selected for the event for their dramatic improvement in the FCAT. Over the course of four years, the school has dramatically improved its grade of “D” (2001) to a “B” (2005).