Wearing their purple and white football jerseys, eight seniors on the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity football team volunteered to share their love of literacy by reading to Port Jefferson first graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary
School this fall.
The football players – Shane Bruno, Nick Caltagirone, Mike DiCalogero, Bill Govits, John Guerra, Garret Hiz, Jefferson Koutsantanou, Spencer Wooley – participated in the event as part of a community outreach program organized by the team’s booster club.
“The high school athletes were very exited about this opportunity to give back,” said coach Andrew Cosci.
After reading “Fall Mixed Up,” by Bob Raczka; “If You Take a Mouse to School,” by Laura Numeroff; and “A Bad Case of Stripes,” by David Shannon, the players took turns answering questions from students. The reading session culminated with the athletes taking the first graders outside to teach them how to throw a football.
Photo Caption: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity football players read to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School first graders on Sept. 28.
Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District
