Flower Hill PARP Features NHL Greats
Flower Hill Primary School's annual reading extravaganza will kickoff this week with a special assembly on Friday afternoon. The PTA's Parents as Reading Partners program has a long tradition at the school and is still going strong.
This year's program is co-chaired by parents Maureen Starr and Bianca Swaab. The initiative's 2013 theme is "Every player counts! Let a book lead you to victory!" A pair of former New York Islanders greats will be paying a visit to the school to drive home that very point.
The PARP program asks parents (or any adult family member) to read with their child for at least 15 minutes each day, emphasizing that reading is both a fun and informative activity. PARP dates to 1978 when New York State Senate Education Committee Chairman James Donovan developed the program. The NYS PTA began coordinating the annual campaign in 1987.
The program will run for two weeks and organizers hope it stimulates a love for reading in Flower Hill's energetic students. The goal is for every student to participate along with a parent or even a grandparent. Mrs. Starr said there are "many activities planned" to keep the campaign fun and interesting for the school community.
"To generate excitement about the program and communicate the values of sportsmanship and being a part of a team, we have Bobby Nystrom coming in to speak to the children about his personal experience as a member of an award winning team," Mrs. Starr said.
A right wing, Nystrom was one of the Islanders stars when the team won four consecutive National Hockey League Stanley Cup championships in one of the most dominating displays in the history of the sport. He was known as Mr. Islander because of how completely he adopted Long Island, its people and institutions.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Nystrom played for the Islanders from 1972-1986, appearing in 900 games and notching 235 goals and 278 assists. In 157 playoff games, he had 39 goals and 44 assists. His No. 23 was retired by the Islanders in 1995.
Nystrom scored the winning goal in overtime to give the New York Islanders the 1980 Stanley Cup crown. In 1991 the team began presenting the Bob Nystrom Award to a player "who best exemplifies leadership, hustle and dedication."
The closing awards assembly on Thursday, April 4 will feature Hockey Hall of Fame member and former New York Islanders great Clark Gilles. In 958 NHL games, he scored 319 goals and had 378 assists. In 164 playoff game, Gilles scored 47 goals and added 47 assists.
Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, Gilles played for the Islanders from 1974-1986 and for the Buffalo Sabres from 1986-1988. The left wing's No. 9 was retired by the Islanders in 1996. The power forward was an essential part of the team's four Stanley Cup titles.
After members of Flower Hill's PARP committee developed the idea of bringing the professional athletes to the school, a parent who is personal friends with both players conveyed the invitation and made the necessary arrangements.
According to the New York State PTA website, studies show that youngsters "who read at home are better prepared to succeed in formal education." The state organization believes that "PARP is a program that cements the necessary bond between the home and the school to encourage love of reading in our children."