Bourne High School hockey players read to Bournedale Elementary School students for the second year in a row on Tuesday, Jan. 31. (Photo courtesy of Bourne Public Schools) Members of the boys and girls Bourne High School hockey teams went to the reading day event to read hockey themed books to elementary school students. (Photo courtesy of Bourne Public Schools) (Left to right) Junior Captain Ty Kelley, freshmen James Crowell and freshmen Drew Kelley read to Bournedale Elementary School students before taking questions about hockey and academics. (Photo courtesy of Bourne Public Schools) (Left to right) Junior Captain Ty Kelley, freshmen James Crowell and freshmen Drew Kelley read to Bournedale Elementary School students before taking questions about hockey and academics. (Photo courtesy of Bourne Public Schools) 
(Left to right) Kindergartner Addison Ellis, eighth grader Doug Lunedei and junior Cooper Gobeil read to the kindergarten class on Jan. 31. (Photo courtesy of Bourne Public Schools)
BOURNE — Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou and Bournedale Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Carpenito are pleased to report that Bourne High School hockey players continued their new tradition of reading to students at the elementary school last week.
Members of both the boys and girls hockey teams visited 15 different classrooms at Bournedale Elementary School on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to meet and read to students in grades Pre-K to 2.
The event was spearheaded by first grade teacher Tammy Kelley last year and is becoming a tradition that her students and the hockey players look forward to.
“This day is so special for all involved,” Kelley said. “The younger students always look forward to having the players read to them. The hockey players enjoy reading to the younger students and love going down memory lane visiting their kindergarten, first and second grade teachers.”
The teachers also look forward to seeing students they previously taught giving back to younger students and using the skills they continue to teach in their classrooms.
The reading day is two-fold, not only are the younger students able to meet the players off the ice, but the players are able to see the impact they have on the younger generation and give back to their community while being positive role models for the children.
Members of the team read books that were hockey themed. Titles such as “The Magic Hockey Stick,” “The Boy Who Wore Number 4,” “Goodnight Hockey,” “Hockey A-Z,” “Z is for Zamboni” and more. They also spent time answering questions the younger students had with an emphasis on sports and academics.
“This reading day is a great opportunity to remind our student-athletes that when they are out on the ice they have so many little eyes watching them and looking up to them,” Principal Carpenito said. “It teaches them that what they do on and off the ice matters and it emphasizes the importance of always exhibiting teamwork and showing respect for their opponents, their coaches and members of their community.”
Many of the younger students had participated in a skate night fundraiser last December that was put on by the hockey players. They were able to skate together and the younger students even asked the players for autographs.
The Boy’s Hockey Team has been giving back to their community in other ways as well. They volunteered for Operation Flags for Vets at the MA National Cemetery, helped cut and stack wood for Homeless for The Holidays and many of the BHS players volunteered to be referees in the Cape Cod Canal Youth Hockey Great White Winter Classic.
Kelley and the students look forward to seeing what next year’s event will bring.
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