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SALT LAKE CITY — Many students spent their first school night staying up late at the Salt Lake Bees game. They earned permission and free tickets with lots of reading.
"I love reading. It's one of my favorite things," said seventh grader Sydney.
She and all the other students waving green foam "Read Today" fingers completed a summer reading program organized by KSL's Read Today program and the Deseret News. This year the number of students who took part quadrupled. Bees General Manager Marc Amicone said that, alone, is reason to celebrate.
"You need reading to do everything else," he said. "It's important for them and the community."
The students celebrated their accomplishments and the start of the school year at the Bees' Read Today night on Wednesday. They also reflected on their goals for the school year.
You need reading to do everything else. It's important for them and the community.
–Bees General Manager Marc Amicone
"Just making sure my grades are good, getting all my assignments turned in," said 13-year-old Colby.
Sydney, going into 7th grade, also wants high grades.
"I want to get that 4.0 for middle school. That's my goal," she said.
The reading they did all summer will help them start the year ready to learn instead of catching up. The goal was to avoid what educators refer to as the "summer slide."
While cheering, eating hot dogs and staying up later than normal may not seem like a perfect school night routine, these students have done the work to get off to a great start.
