AUBURN - For the first time on Tuesday night, the Auburn High School varsity swim team participated in Seymour Public Library's TV Turn Off Week.
The 2006 Section III champions participated in what library staff member Barbara Stith called, “a night for children of the community to interact with older kids that they look up to as role models. Having them come in and read to these children really makes the kids know how important and fun reading can be in a person's success.”
TV Turnoff Week is a national effort that began in 1965 and was picked up in Auburn about five years ago. Stith explained that encouraging children to read often is something that the Seymour Public Library staff is committed to doing every day and, this week being National TV Turnoff Week is the right time to make the effort even more.
“This is a wonderful time to stress how fun reading can be,” Stith said, “and that is what we want to do tonight. The members of the swim team are a wonderful group of kids with great personalities; you can tell they really enjoy being involved.”
For Auburn High School swim coach Rich Hamberger, getting the team excited to participate in Tuesday's night event wasn't hard at all.
“This is a great way to get the team some exposure,” said Hamberger, who has been coaching in Auburn for 10 years. “Whenever they have an opportunity to participate in community service, they will do it.”
Eleven of the team's 26 members came to Seymour Library to participate in readings and crafts. Many could not attend the event due to prior obligations, such as lifeguard training and work. Those who came expressed their own personal satisfaction for reading.
“Reading exercises the mind and makes a person more open minded,” said Cameron Lovenduski, a junior. “Once you get into a good book, it is hard to put down.”
The Maroons' Preston Chaffee was able to express his love for reading by captivating the young audience with an animated reading of the children's book “Three By The Sea.”
At the conclusion of the story, many of the audience members were eager to ask the swimmers questions. When asked by a 7-year-old girl from Genesee Street Elementary School, if he believed he could beat a whale in a swimming contest, Chaffee admitted, “although it may be tough, I think I could.”
Seymour Public Library Director Sheila Anderson praised the sectional champions for helping out.
“I used to be a competitive swimmer,” Anderson said. “These kids are wonderful, they did a great job this season, and their help here tonight has been great, we appreciate them and their encouragement to get young children reading very much.”
TV Turnoff Week is a national effort that began in 1965 and was picked up in Auburn about five years ago. Stith explained that encouraging children to read often is something that the Seymour Public Library staff is committed to doing every day and, this week being National TV Turnoff Week is the right time to make the effort even more.
“This is a wonderful time to stress how fun reading can be,” Stith said, “and that is what we want to do tonight. The members of the swim team are a wonderful group of kids with great personalities; you can tell they really enjoy being involved.”
For Auburn High School swim coach Rich Hamberger, getting the team excited to participate in Tuesday's night event wasn't hard at all.
“This is a great way to get the team some exposure,” said Hamberger, who has been coaching in Auburn for 10 years. “Whenever they have an opportunity to participate in community service, they will do it.”
Eleven of the team's 26 members came to Seymour Library to participate in readings and crafts. Many could not attend the event due to prior obligations, such as lifeguard training and work. Those who came expressed their own personal satisfaction for reading.
“Reading exercises the mind and makes a person more open minded,” said Cameron Lovenduski, a junior. “Once you get into a good book, it is hard to put down.”
The Maroons' Preston Chaffee was able to express his love for reading by captivating the young audience with an animated reading of the children's book “Three By The Sea.”
At the conclusion of the story, many of the audience members were eager to ask the swimmers questions. When asked by a 7-year-old girl from Genesee Street Elementary School, if he believed he could beat a whale in a swimming contest, Chaffee admitted, “although it may be tough, I think I could.”
Seymour Public Library Director Sheila Anderson praised the sectional champions for helping out.
“I used to be a competitive swimmer,” Anderson said. “These kids are wonderful, they did a great job this season, and their help here tonight has been great, we appreciate them and their encouragement to get young children reading very much.”
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