Gorillas and Dusters Help Area School Celebrate Reading
Published on December 18, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
Amarillo, TX 12/18/08 - The Amarillo Gorillas and Amarillo Dusters made a visit to Woodlands Elementary school in Amarillo Thursday to participate in D.E.A.R. day. Players from both teams read to second and fourth grade classes, in order to emphasize the importance of and encourage reading.
Players from the Dusters arenafootball2 team, along with Luke Lynes and Nate Hagemo of the Gorillas hockey team, read holiday-related books to eager students. The experience was part of the school's annual D.E.A.R. day, in which local celebrities read to various classes throughout the school.
"We love to get members of the community out during D.E.A.R. day," said Woodlands Elementary Librarian Kelly Smith. "The Gorillas and Dusters are always a big part of the activity, and we are excited to have players from both teams reading to our students."
D.E.A.R. ("Drop Everything And Read") has been celebrated for ten consecutive years at the Amarillo-area school. The highlight of D.E.A.R. day in 2008 may have been an impassioned reading of the book "Jingle Jingle" by Lynes, the Gorillas rookie.
"It's great for the kids to be setting aside time to read," Smith said. "They need to see their role models reading as well, to show them that reading is a lifelong activity and serves as a great retreat from everyday life."
Gorillas mascot Stomp also made an appearance at the school, giving hugs to classrooms of students as they began holiday parties. Many students were given certificates for a free ticket to a future Amarillo Gorillas game, as a reward for their dedication to reading.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2008
- IceRays Fall to Killer Bees 6-4 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Gorillas and Dusters Help Area School Celebrate Reading - Amarillo Gorillas
- Bucks Host Killer Bees Friday - Laredo Bucks
- Colorado Back on Top of Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll - CHL
- RiverKings NYE Party Includes Built-In Babysitting - Mississippi RiverKings
- Support Toys for Tots December 19 and 20 - Arizona Sundogs
- Sundogs To Wear Vintage Themed Jerseys Friday - Arizona Sundogs
- Oklahoma City's Doug Sauter Clinches Coaching Slot in CHL All-Star Game - CHL
- Donald Thomson Returns To Bucks Front Office - Laredo Bucks
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