Schools
Utica Community Schools, USPBL team up to promote reading
UCS and the United Shore Professional Baseball League are making sure students are batting a thousand when it comes to their reading.
Utica Community Schools (UCS) and the newly-formed United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) are teaming up to make sure students are batting a thousand when it comes to their reading.
UCS and the League are using March is Reading Month to step up to the plate and implement an incentive-based program that encourages students in grades 3 to 6 to read more and develop a love for reading.
“A focus on reading is a priority in our schools and throughout the entire UCS community,” said superintendent Dr. Christine Johns. “Even though they still have a ‘rookie’ status in our community, the League is taking a leadership role to promote a lifelong love of reading and the critical role it plays in our students’ academic success.”
General Sports and Entertainment announced this past summer the creation of the USPBL, which will play at the Jimmy John’s field in downtown Utica. The League Opening Day is Memorial Day 2016.
“Whether it is a scorecard, baseball program or book, reading is a crucial life skill that is a foundation for all other learning,” said Andy Appleby, league founder and president and chief executive officer of Rochester, Michigan-based General Sports and Entertainment. “We are pleased to support Utica Community Schools and its efforts to make sure local students are graduating with a competitive advantage when it comes to college and career.”
The reading incentive program – called “Lancelot’s Learners League” after the local Utica Unicorns team mascot – will recognize students who meet goals for either time spent reading, number of pages read or number of books read during March.
Grade level teams at each school have established reading requirements for reaching first base, second base, third base or home plate.
Approximately 8,000 third through sixth-grade UCS students are eligible to participate through their elementary schools. Students who score a “home run” will receive a ticket to a special school night at a Utica Unicorns home game. Family members will receive a discounted ticket offer for the school game night.
