Kicking off Black History Month with the Golden State Warriors

To kick off Black History Month, the Golden State Warriors outlined the importance of reading to our students at Reading Partners through an incredible “Read to Achieve” event presented by Ross Dress for Less.

During the Reading Rally, our excited students were invited on stage to read with Alfonzo Mckinnie and Damian Jones in front of their entire school!

The first book they read together, Ruby Bridges, was a meaningful opportunity to illustrate one of the reasons we celebrate Black History Month. Ruby, a young African-American girl, was the first to enter a whites-only school during the 1960’s. Although she faced prejudiced crowds of angry protesters, she bravely persevered and attended each day. She made a lasting impact on American society and is a celebrated figure of the civil rights movement. One 3rd grade student, Jose, reflects on the book:

I like that story because even though people were mad at her for going to school, she didn’t stop trying to learn things.

Next, our students took turns reading The Rainbow Fish, a classic story that embodies a simple yet universal message: sharing with others makes us happy. The Warriors even brought out the Rainbow Fish mascot to join the fun on stage!

To wrap up the Reading Rally, students took the “Read to Achieve Pledge” alongside our championship team to promote the continuation of reading and commitment to being a lifelong learner.
We are grateful to have an ongoing partnership with the Warriors. They continue to model the importance of reading and learning for our students and community.

To  become a great champion, you have to be persistent and never stop practicing!

Check out more photos here!