A highlight of every Philadelphia Phillies baseball game is the silly antics of the team’s mascot, the Phanatic, and the students of Van Zant Elementary had him all to themselves for an entire afternoon of fun on Tuesday, May 26.
Chelsea McCann’s Kindergarten class won the assembly for the entire school by entering a “Phanatic About Reading” competition hosted by the Phillies.
The program asked children to read 15 minutes a day; top performing classrooms were promised a Phanatic visit. McCann said all of her students read at least 15 minutes a day, almost every day from September through the end of March, when she collected their logs.
“Not only did they win the obvious prize, but my class built and gained wonderful reading habits, early literacy skills and an overall awareness of print, as well as a true love of reading and listening to stories,” McCann said. “I am so proud of them.”
During the assembly, the Phanatic played the trumpet with and conducted the school’s band, and encouraged the entire student body and staff to dance.
Of course he also read and reenacted his favorite book, “One Man Band,” with the help of McCann.
In addition, the Phanatic gave every member of McCann’s class a copy of “One Man Band,” Phillies tickets, and a special award; he also showed off his famous belly dance with them, which the class had been practicing.
“It was really cool, he did silly stuff,” said Emily Esher, a student in McCann’s class, which made crafts like Phanatic hats for the assembly. “I read because sometimes you don’t want to do anything else.”
According to Van Zant Principal Rosemary McMullen, the entire school was eagerly anticipating the Phanatic’s visit.
“They were so excited for him to come,” McMullen said. “I’m so proud of our students for reading every day and getting the message about how important it is to read.”
McMullen also thanked the Phillies organization.
