Rhame Avenue School hit it out of the park with its Pick A Reading Partner (PARP) kickoff event on May 1, thanks to a winning combination of books, baseball and student role models.

As part of the school’s commitment to fostering a love of literacy, members of the East Rockaway junior varsity and varsity baseball teams stepped off the field and into the classroom for a series of special read-aloud sessions. The event brought energy and excitement to the school’s reading initiative.

With baseball-themed books in hand, the student-athletes visited classrooms throughout the day, sharing stories and sparking conversation about the power of reading. Their presence resonated with younger students, showing that success requires both strong bodies and strong minds.

The event emphasized reading as a “winning strategy,” aligning with the district’s mission to connect academics with other areas of student life. The excitement generated during the day helped kick off PARP on a high note and underscored the message that reading, like sports, is best approached with passion and persistence.