Easthampton’s Maple Elementary School was abuzz with the sounds of stories Wednesday night when athletes from high schools and colleges around the Valley gathered to read to school-age children.

Students read the classics, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Olivia, and Ferdinand, as well as more recent titles and nonfiction (Trucks).

For the past six years, Williston student athletes have participated in Easthampton’s Athletes LOVE to Read program at Maple Elementary. The program, organized by the Easthampton Public Schools, reinforces the idea that reading is an important part of living and learning, and that it is available to all. Matthew Sawyer, English teacher and baseball coach, organizes Williston’s participation in the program, and said the students who participated represented the school well. They are:

Fiona Bundy ’18
Chris Espinal’ 17
Cody Cavanagh ’17
Madison Fulcher-Melendy ‘18
Gabriela Jones ’18
Ian Ostberg ’17
Ana Weed ’18