Winslow Elementary School students in kindergarten through fifth grade gathered with mentors from the Winslow High School boys and girls varsity basketball teams this week, for Books and Blankets, a program school officials say is intended to promote reading among school families.

“We run two-parent involvement events each year, one is literacy and one is math,” said Jennifer Morneault, a first grade teacher at the school. “We’re just looking to get parents and children from the community involved and getting them reading books and getting books in every child’s hands.”

Additional Images

Benjamin Thomas, 5, clutches his favorite books as he arrives at the Books and Blankets event at Winslow Elementary School this week. Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

Keisha Whitman, left and husband Scott, right, read to their 4-year-old daughter Danica at Winslow Elementary School’s Books and Blankets event. Normal: Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

An estimated 200 children and parents attended the Wednesday gathering, sitting on blankets in the school gymnasium and reading together. Members of the basketball teams spend some of their study hall time reading with the younger students during the school year. Morneault says the program makes the student athletes into mentors for the elementary school students.

“They look so forward to the kids coming over to read, and the older students like being good role models for the kids,” Morneault said. “Our slogan is ‘Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.'”

Toward the end of the year, the school moves to building parental involvement in helping students learn math and put what they learn to everyday use. The featured event is a barbecue at which simple carnival games are played in which math is integrated into the game.

“The games are simple, so that families can make it and play it at home,” she said.

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