Students at Unaka Elementary School took part in the Ranger Reading Shootout this week.

Members of the boys and girls basketball teams at Unaka Elementary spent part of their evening on Tuesday reading to the younger students in Pre-K through 3rd grades.

After taking time to read, the basketball players moved to the other end of the gymnasium where they played some games with the younger students.

Each child in grades Pre-K through 3 received a free book. Unaka Elementary Principal Dr. Diana Bowers said she chose the We Both Read books to give out to the students because she likes how the books encourage families to read together with their children. The books feature a “parent page” and a “child’s page” with the adult and child each having their own parts to read aloud.

Bobbie Frazier, a first grade teacher at Unaka Elementary, spoke with the parents and guardians who attended Tuesdays event about reading with their children and how to work with their children using the We Both Read books.

In addition to the activities for the children, representatives from the adult education program at Northeast State Community College were on hand to speak with family members about the education opportunities available for adults.

The school also provided free food and drinks to those in attendance thanks to Food City in Elizabethton, which donated hot dogs, buns, and drinks for the event.

Bowers also wanted to thank the staff at Unaka Elementary for their help in making the event a success, especially Lacey Dugger, who works with educational technology at the school, for coordinating the event and basketball coaches Alisha King and Nick Colbaugh.