Canton Middle School Participates in Connecticut Whale Reading Program

For the second year, Canton Middle School is participating in a Connecticut Whale Reading Program.  

Dubbed "Read to the Rink," the effort rewards those who complete the initiative with a free hockey game ticket to see the Whale any time after the winter holiday break. Last year the school participated in the team's "Hat Trick for Reading" program, which involved reading three books.

This year, the new program stipulates five, which can be books read for a class or project. Like the older program, Read to the Rink will also include a visit from Whale Mascot Pucky.For the program, kids receive a book mark with five lines to record teacher-approved titles. 

For many students, reading 5 books between October to January, is a modest goal but the program is a good way to motivate some of those who aren't readers, said Sandra Hurd, library assistant at the school. 

"It still makes so kids who don't love reading do it a little more," Hurd said. 

Whale Community Relations Manager Frank Berrian had similar thoughts. He hopes the program gives those non readers a little incentive. 

"First and foremost is to get kids to read," he said.