GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT — Harrel Elementary students pictured in front row, from left to right are Jessie Buentello, Mia Araujo, Adriana Cortez, Juan Collazo, Lorenzo Villarreal, Zowe Villarreal, Nadia Hernandez, Daniel Barbour, Iliana Chavez, Robert Perez III; Memorial Middle School Cheerleaders pictured in middle row are, Desiree Silvas, Mariah Ramos, Lauren Martinez, and Jaymee Garcia; back row, Ashleigh Smith, Alejandra Flores, Kaylie Windham, Ariela Quinones, Kaitlyn Bunch, Emily Pena, Alex Quinones, and Taylor Franklin. The Memorial Middle School Cheerleaders visited Harrel Elementary School on Sept. 18.

The cheerleaders wanted to build a positive, learning relationship with the students of Harrel Elementary School.

The cheerleader’s message to the students was to do their best in school in order to participate in activities such as cheerleading, volleyball, football, band, and UIL events.

They also stressed how important reading is in everything they do, but most importantly in their educational goals.

The Memorial Middle School cheerleaders performed two cheers and a dance. The students gathered in their classrooms, and the cheerleaders each read a book to each group.

The books read to the students were: Pre-K: The Three Billy Goats Gruff; Kinder: Kapok Tree; First Grade: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs.

After reading to the students, the students were asked comprehension questions.

“We want our young children to have positive role models that they can relate and look up to,” Cheerleader sponsor, Kira Elizondo said.

This is the cheerleaders’ first community service project for the 2009-2010 school year.

The activity was made possible by Ms. Wendy Sanfilippo, first grade teacher at Harrel Elementary School and Kira Elizondo, cheerleader sponsor and seventh grade writing teacher at Memorial Middle School.