AURORA CHARTER SCHOOL
READERS FOR LIFE EVENT

On November 20, 2008 Minnesota Qwest Pioneers were welcomed at the Aurora Charter School in Minneapolis.  Principal Cheryl Avina and staff were eager to meet the Pioneers and guests.  

Principal Avina  invited staff from Spanish language newspaper La Prensa as well as Spanish cable channel television to cover the Readers-for Life  event. 

Three members of the U S Women’s Hockey team, Julie Chu, Meaghan VanBeusecom and Molly Engstrom joined a group of Qwest Pioneers at the presentation.  Each shared a book they remembered as special from when they were young readers. 

Members of the Hockey Team partnered with a teacher and read to groups of students from a book in a dual language format. 

 Kids were introduced to a wizard in full regalia (aka Joe Swenson) and cheered at the appearance of The Cat in the Hat (cat played by Readers committee chair Donna Ness) and Spirit the Dog, Qwest’s mascot was portrayed by employee Charlene Erickson. 

Following the story, students had time to ask questions of the U S Women’s Hockey team players.  They had a wide-ranging curiosity about the players careers and lives and learned a lot from the sharing time. 

Qwest Pioneers presented about 140 books to the school;  A book for every student at the program and several more for the school library. 

The audience of third, fourth and fifth graders at Aurora Charter School are working hard to develop their English language reading skills and the book given to each student will be a valuable tool to move them forward to becoming successful readers for life.

Wizard (Joe Swenson) Spirit (Charlie Erickson) and MN Qwest Pioneer Chapter President Kathy Hanson get acquainted with the students.

Qwest President John Stanoch and Kathy Hanson welcome the U S Women’s Hockey Team players to Readers for Life

Everyone, even dogs, likes a good story

 Students get a high-five and autographs from the U S Women’s Hockey Team players at the program conclusion

Cat in the Hat (Donna Ness – Literacy Programs Chair) joins the other guests who helped bring excitement for reading to Aurora Charter School in Minneapolis