- Family Connection, in partnership with Easton Area School District, held "Read Under the Lights" on Sept. 19
- Athletes read to pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students and also played games with them
- Both the younger crowd and the athletes alike said they enjoyed meeting their heroes and giving back to the community
EASTON, Pa. — Dozens of excitable little Eastonians got a chance to be a Red Rover and hit the football field for some play time and reading at Cottingham Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Following a rescheduling due to weather, Family Connection and Easton Area School District were able to host “Reading Under the Lights” at the stadium on Sept. 19, giving kids the opportunity to hear stories and engage in fun physical activities.
Athletes from a variety of EASD teams – including girls’ basketball, boys’ lacrosse, football, track and field, soccer, and cheerleading – led the story times and activities with children and families from across the district. The event was open to all EASD families with children in pre-kindergarten through grade five.
“It’s been fun – we have some games out here, we have tic-tac-toe, we’re reading them all kinds of books, some about lacrosse, Curious George.”Easton lacrosse player Shae Linegar
“Today is ‘Reading Under the Lights,’ it's an annual event that we hold here to help bring out our elementary school students and just kind of celebrate the beginning of the school year, and just bring in our pre-K students so they can get familiar with the district and the services that we have,” Executive Director of Family Connection Keela Vincent said.
Students would make their way around the field for limited times with each team, reading books, enjoying a round of cornhole, and, at times, getting lessons from their beloved Easton athletes.
“We’ve been racing with them, playing a little cornhole with them, and also duck-duck-goose, which we just got finished doing. We’re looking forward to playing more games with them,” soccer player Jordan Lytwyn, 17, said.
The older students recognized the value in the time spent on the field with those young upstarts, many of whom were interested in getting into athletics themselves.
“Coming out here gives a good experience to the kids, to get them to know us, we get to know them. And it’s always good to give back to the community with all the different sports teams. Just seeing all the little kids who are interested, the ones that look up to us, it’s really inspiring,” soccer player Jillian Wilson, 17, said.
Logan Ulmer, 8, said he enjoyed spending his time doing “track and field, reading a book, and other stuff,” adding he did a great job on the hurdles and just might take up track and field in the future.
While the kids love spending time with their heroes, the experience is just as fulfilling for those athletes.
“I just wanted to give back to the community, read some books to some little kids, help out some little kids who maybe don’t know how to read yet.” Lacrosse player Shae Linegar, 16, said.
“It’s been fun – we have some games out here, we have tic-tac-toe, we’re reading them all kinds of books, some about lacrosse, Curious George,” Linegar said. “I didn’t even know we had lacrosse books; it’s pretty cool. I’d never read one before, so it’s new to me too.”
Reading Under the Lights is one of many events held throughout the year as part of the district’s Kindergarten Transition initiative, the goal of which is to welcome families into EASD and promote early learning and school readiness.
The event touches upon the core mission of Family Connection, which provides support and case management assistance in a variety of circumstances ranging from health and wellness to food insecurity to academic enrichment.
