Young MLB Star Joins Sayville for Reading Celebration

Sunrise Drive Elementary School, part of the Sayville Union Free School District, recently held a celebration of reading to mark the finals of its March Madness Masked Singer competition. After announcing the winner of the Districtwide event, students were surprised with a special video featuring Los Angeles Angels catcher and Sayville native Logan O’Hoppe reading his mother’s unpublished children’s book. The celebration ended on a sweet note, as students turned Sunrise Drive Principal Dr. James Foy into a human sundae.

Throughout March, Sayville’s three elementary schools—Cherry Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Sunrise Drive—watched masked teachers, administrators, staff, and community members read aloud from children’s books. Students voted on their favorite performances, with top readers advancing in a bracket-style competition. At the finale, the top four readers were revealed, with We are Definitely Human winning at both Cherry Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, read by Kate Enea and Alyssa Devine at each school, respectively. Ms. Reilly, children’s librarian from the Sayville Public Library, was crowned the Sunrise Drive winner for her reading of No Cats in the Library. The competition was organized by Sayville librarians Alison Cascarelli (Cherry Avenue), Kelsey LaPort (Sunrise Drive), and Kateri Volpe (Lincoln Avenue).

Following the tournament results, students were treated to one final surprise: a video read-aloud from Logan O’Hoppe, who appeared behind a bear mask and read If You Choose to Believe Them, an unpublished book written by his mother, Angela O’Hoppe—a current teacher in the Sayville School District. After finishing the book, Logan revealed his identity to a cheering crowd and encouraged students to always follow their dreams, no matter what others may say.

“Reading is so important that not only your teachers, but people from all around the community—and even an MLB superstar—took the time to read to all of you this month,” said Dr. James Foy, principal of Sunrise Drive. “If there’s one thing that Sayville schools will teach you, let it be that reading is the most important thing you can do.”

The event concluded with students who completed Dr. Foy’s PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) Principal’s Challenge joining their teachers on stage. One by one, they poured ice cream toppings over their principal’s head, turning him into a human sundae in front of the entire student body.

For more information on the Sayville Union Free School District, visit the district’s website at sayvilleschools.org. Happenings in the district can also be found on the district’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saydistrictpr. #CaringAndLearning