Longwood Lions Paw Positive Athletic Work

I am a coach at Longwood High School.Several years ago we created a community organization of athletes who “give back” to the community. It is called The Longwood Lion’s PAW Positive Athletic Work. It is an organization led by the athletes but including their teachers, coaches, administrators and their families. This literacy event we call LONGWOOD ROARS (Reads with Our Athletic Rolemodels. The HS athletes go into one of our elementary schools and read with students in grades K-4. These young students look up to the HS Athletes. The PTA furnishes snacks and the students read books or stories on the smartboard together.We also have the athletes explain that they have to try their best in school and get good grades so they are allowed to participate in sports. Each year we hold this literacy event on Read Across America Day.

One child summed it up best. As I was walking down the hall he said to me”Is today the day the athletes are coming to read with us?” When I said “yes, it is” he replied with an emphatic “YES!” It made me realize how much the young children look forward to this each year.

I am proud of our athletes for doing this. They learn how important it is to “give back” to the community. It is what we call a “WIN-WIN” program. Everyone leaves feeling good about themselves. The coaches and teachers at the HS help us recruit the athletes and the district supplies the bus to take the HS students to our elemenary. Everyone is involved and that is what makes this so special.We all work together for the good of the students! Thank you for the opportunity to share!
Sincerely,
Donna Roenbeck