Phanatic celebrates reading and his birthday at Leedom School
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP >> Students at Leedom Elementary School in the Ridley School District were welcomed back from spring break recently with a fun-filled assembly and an anticipated visit by a green, furry celebrity. The Phillie Phanatic threw a grand party at Leedom, with lively music, entertainment and gifts for everyone to celebrate the students’ progress in reading. The event was the culmination of the students’ participation in the Phanatic About Reading Program.
The Phillies organization’s Phanatic About Reading Program, presented by Comcast, encourages children in grades K-8 to improve their literacy skills by reading at least 15 minutes a day.
According to Leedom principal Melissa O’Doherty, students logged their time reading, from November to February, and participating classrooms received pencils, bookmarks and posters to use as incentives.
“I read at least 15 minutes every day,” explained fourth grade student Anthony Weisel. “I read books and magazines. I like reading Phillies books.”
Teachers recorded students’ progress on an evaluation form. The logs were then submitted by Leedom School librarian Lisa Bucholski, who oversaw the program. The forms factor into deciding which schools receive a visit from the Phanatic.
“The staff and students were so thrilled to learn that they had been selected for the visit,” Leedom administrative assistant Mary Mattero said. “We have been so excited for this day!”
“The Phillies organization was gracious enough to let us pick the date for the celebration,” explained Principal O’Doherty. “We chose the day that the students returned from spring break because we figured it was the perfect kick-off to the remainder of the school year and a way to get the students immediately engaged in being back in school. Plus, it would put everyone’s focus right back to the value of reading.”
O’Doherty also said that the Phillies staff, who accompanied the Phanatic to the school, dropped off a donation of about 50 Phillie Phanatic themed books to the library.
During the party, the Phanatic chose several students to help him act out a book from his children’s book series, read by Principal O’Doherty. As the principal read the book while sitting in a rocking chair, third graders Venus Lee and Alyssa Viola laid cardboard bricks to construct the Philadelphia Free Library and other landmarks mentioned in the book. Third grade student Michael Harris played Ben Franklin, first grader Mikaela Kilroy played Betsy Ross, and when the Phanatic chose school custodian Joe Vecchio to play the Thomas Jefferson role, the entire gym erupted in applause.
After students helped the Phanatic do the electric slide and a few other popular dance numbers, they joined him into singing, what he said, is his favorite song, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”
Before The Phillie Phanatic made his exit, students and staff at Leedom surprised the assembly star with an early birthday party before his official birthday celebration on April 23 at the 1:35 p.m. PhilliesBraves game. Students in Tracy Reali’s K1 and 2 class presented a giant birthday card that they had made for their beloved mascot.
Everyone at the special assembly sang “Happy Birthday” to the Phanatic, as they presented him with a Phillies-themed birthday cake from Traub’s Bakery to take home and share with the Galápagos Gang. As part of the celebration, the school purchased a mini cupcake for each student to receive once they returned to their classroom.
Following the celebratory assembly, students were still smiling as they made their way to their classrooms.
“That was a lot of fun,” said second grader Patrick Kenny, who met his reading goals in the Phillies program by reading books from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Wings of Fire series. “I never saw the Phanatic twerk before.”
Jaydan Cox, a fourth grader who enjoys reading chapter books, agreed and said, “He’s funny and he had a lot of funny moves!”
“He was crazy,” added second grader Nahla Solometo, with a laugh. “He had some funky moves!”
Overall, 50,000 students take part in Comcast’s Phillie Phanatic About Reading program and NovaCare Rehabilitation’s interactive Phillies Phitness program, but only top participants receive a visit from the Phillies organization.
On Saturday, May 6, the Phillies will select five Most Outstanding Readers and five Most Improved Readers to be honored during the annual Comcast Phanatic About Reading Night. All fans 14 and under will receive a copy of the Phanatic’s newest book in his children’s series, courtesy of Comcast. In addition, new and gently-used children’s books will be collected at all gates to benefit Philadelphia Reads.
For more information, visit http://mlb.mlb.com/phi/community/phanatic_reading.jsp or emailcommunity@phillies.com/.