Revere High School Varsity athletes are traveling to Hillcrest to read and interact with first-grade students, promoting the importance of reading and studying frequently.

The Little Minutemen Reading Club started in 2012 with the help of a few first-grade teachers. Debbie Schwertner, the first-grade chair in charge of the program, discussed how it began and how it works.

“In 2012, a couple first grade teachers discussed the idea of starting the Little Minutemen Reading Club. We really wanted to motivate the students and get them to really read more each day. We decided that each first grade student would have a nightly reading log where they would record the amount of books they read. Each month, we would graph the total amount of books read by each student in their Leadership Notebooks. If the goal was reached, which is typically 25-50 books, they would be invited to a Varsity sporting event. We reached out to many Varsity coaches and many were eager to work with us. The Varsity coaches would send their players over to read some books to the first graders and talk to them about the importance of reading and working hard in school. They are wonderful role models for Revere’s youngest students. The students that reached the designated reading goal are then invited to that sports game. They are invited on the field or court to high five the players before the game begins,” Schwertner said.

The readings take place during the fall, winter, and spring athletic seasons. Many of Revere’s sports teams, including football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, baseball and track participate in this program. Jake Kahoe, a Varsity football senior who has participated twice, commented on his experience.

“We head over to Hillcrest together as a team and when we get there we separate into groups of two or three. We read the kids a book of their choice and usually do a fun activity afterwards such as a ‘dance party’ or recess. My favorite part was probably interacting with the kids. They look at us like [we are] celebrities so it was a big deal for them,” Kahoe said.

Schwertner shared one of her favorite experiences from the Little Minutemen Reading Club.

“There was a time where the high school baseball game was cancelled due to rainy Spring weather. The students were so disappointed. Coach Cottrell felt really bad and had the first graders come out and meet with his players on another date and let the kids run the bases and announce them. They were super excited and felt extra special. Revere has great students and coaches and we are so fortunate to be part of this community,” Schwertner said.

Former head football coach Phil Heyn, whose tradition of reading to elementary school children sparked the idea for the Little Minutemen Reading Club, commented why he started the program in the fall of 2010.

“[The program] benefits the Hillcrest kids by seeing the high school students and hopefully aspiring to be like them one day. It also emphasizes the importance of reading and education. For the high school kids, [they learn to understand] that they are role models and what they do and the decisions they make have an impact on others,” Heyn said.

Recently, Little Minutemen participants received their reward for reading 50 books by high-fiving the boys basketball team at the Varsity game on January 27, 2017.