The third grade class at the Upper Elementary School received a very special treat on January 14 - - a visit by two Utica Comets players!
Tanner MacMaster, #19, and Jaime Sifers, #26, read a story in each third grade classroom. 
Their visit was the culmination of the “Upper Elementary Reading Challenge.” The month long challenge took place from December 3, 2018 to January 4, 2019, and asked students to read at least 620 minutes at home.
As part of the challenge, each Upper Elementary student submitted a log to their classroom teacher at the end of the week noting the amount of time they read at home and the title of the book(s). Students who turned in their log with a parent signature at the end of each week, received a raffle ticket for every day they read at least 20 minutes to enter into a Utica Comets drawing. Prizes included a Utica Comets hockey stick, Utica Comets apparel and a “meet and greet” with Utica Comets players and team mascot, Audi - - the grand prize. Other prizes included lunch with Mr. Polera, principal, and merchandise from the school bookstore, “The Dog House.”
“The purpose of the program is to promote at-home reading,” Mr. Polera said. “Students could read silently or with their parents and siblings. There are so many benefits to reading on a consistent basis.”
The grand prize winners, or those who earned a “meet and greet” with Utica Comets players and Audi on January 14, were:
Julianna Otis – Grade 3
Nicholas Trophia – Grade 3
Amber Brown – Grade 4
Ellah Wameling – Grade 4
Wyatt Elwood – Grade 5
Nathan Testa – Grade 5
Samantha Ferguson – Grade 6
All students who read at least 620 minutes received a special recognition certificate.