The Wootton High School men’s varsity basketball team took a trip on December 19th to read and participate in different crafts with the first graders of Fallsmead Elementary School. This trip, which is a part of the Reading and Mentoring program, has been a tradition for the  Wootton boys for 9 years and counting. Both the head coach Erick Graves and the teachers of the elementary students themselves have elaborated on the immense benefits that the program has for all the parties involved.

For Graves, this program is an opportunity for the players to ground themselves and realize the profound impact that their simple actions can have on the community. “Our student athletes get to see how a simple high five can change someone’s day… how they are viewed as role models… it’s a win-win,” Graves said.

From the teachers’ perspective, the reading and mentoring program offers their students a glimpse into the future 10 years down the line. “[The program] is really nice to get exposed to older grades and see expectations…get them really excited for high school,” first grade teacher Marina Heidar said.

Another first grade teacher involved in this program, Ashley Wasser, noted how impactful the players are on the students from a leadership perspective. “[The players] are a really good role model for the kids,” Wasser said.

As for the kids themselves, they are all smiles when their basketball counterparts walk into the room and engage heavily with them for the entire 30 minutes. On this particular day, the kids were working on a foldable basketball hoop made out of paper that they were instructed to color in. The crafts vary by day, as some days are more reading orientated and others are more hands-on like this day was.

Each player is assigned to a table of about five to six students across three classrooms, where he demonstrates how to complete the project and helps the kids complete their own. The kids love it when they get to spend time with the players and interact with peers who offer wisdom and experience beyond their years. “We feel happy and excited and grateful when Blake comes to our class,” said senior Blake Graham’s table in unison.

In regards to the players themselves, they relish the opportunity to escape the stress of school and the court and interact with the bubbly and energetic personalities that first graders are famous for. Senior Chase Mitchell stressed the importance of helping out with the future community of Wootton, while junior Christian Stokes spoke about how the kids gravitate towards the players and ask them questions, a skill that will provide crucial benefits now and in their future. Senior Cameron Pietak articulated how this program helps the team grow closer, as he said that he connects to every teammate that he shares a classroom with.

By putting the community first, Graves hopes to not only leave a deep impact on the kids his players work with, but for the players to gain a sense of leadership and responsibility as well. Graves put it best in his pre and post-program meetings with the team, as he stressed how great the players are at participating in this program. And after witnessing them in action in person, indeed, they are.