Students take on Cats’ reading challenge

Friday, January 25, 2013

Courtesy photo
Fungo, mascpt for the Fisher Cats, lays out his reading challenge at the Richard Maghakian Memorial School recently. Students are rewarded with Fisher Cats tickets for completing extra reading.

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Courtesy photo
Fungo, mascpt for the Fisher Cats, lays out his reading challenge at the Hollis Primary School recently. Students are rewarded with Fisher Cats tickets for completing extra reading.

Enlarge,

Courtesy photo
Fungo, mascpt for the Fisher Cats, lays out his reading challenge at the Richard Maghakian Memorial School recently. Students are rewarded with Fisher Cats tickets for completing extra reading.

Enlarge-

HOLLIS – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats visited Hollis Primary School and Richard Maghakian Memorial School recently to introduce the students to a new reading program. The Fisher Cats and their mascot, Fungo, presented students with the Fisher Cats Reading Challenge, through the Community College System of New Hampshire.

Under the free program, students will be challenged to increase their reading beyond the normal school curriculum, and will be rewarded with tickets to go see the Fisher Cats.

“This is a fun way to motivate and reward these students with our partners at the Community College System of New Hampshire,” said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner. “Each year this program has reached more students and schools, and we hope this year’s participants have fun while also understanding the long-term benefits of strong reading skills.”

During the assemblies, Fungo, assisted by Fisher Cats staff members, expressed his love of reading while laying out his challenge. When a student reads an additional five books beyond their normal school assignments, they’ll earn a pair of tickets to a Fisher Cats Reading Challenge Night scheduled in 2013 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, courtesy of CCSNH.

The assemblies also featured healthy eating tips and interactive games with the students. They were part of a tour of approximately 40 school visits the Fisher Cats will make before the end of January. By the end of the school year, more than 55,000 students in 150 schools across New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts will have the opportunity to complete the challenge.

“New Hampshire’s community colleges are proud of the students at Hollis Primary School and Richard Maghakian Memorial School,” said Shannon Reid, director of communications for the Community College System of New Hampshire. “Literacy is a key element of academic achievement, increasing children’s confidence and making them better communicators as they grow. We look forward to celebrating with the students from Hollis at the ballpark in 2013.”

In addition to the individual challenge, students will represent their school in a special team competition for the third year. Through a donation from the Fisher Cats Foundation, the school with the highest percentage of students who complete the Reading Challenge will win a $3,000 grand prize. Two additional schools with the next highest percentage of completion will each win $1,000.

Last year, the Reading Challenge reached 55,000 students in nearly 150 schools, with 10 schools generating 100 percent participation.

The program is available free of charge to all schools in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.