Dec. 18, 2023-- Intermediate East's Rocket Readers Book Club led a special holiday read aloud and craft event with the Y-Kids afterschool program at Hooper Avenue Elementary School last Thursday.

The middle school students read books celebrating the holiday season and led the groups in designing book-related art from snowmen to ornaments.

“The elementary students were captivated and completely engaged from beginning to end," said Rocket Readers Book Club advisor Angela Germano. "They really enjoy the older students doing fun crafts with them. You can see them process and really just breathe it all in-lots of appreciation all around."

YMCA counselors observed as much, noting that the younger children remained well-behaved and engrossed throughout, and that they look forward to the older students spending time with them. “This is such an incredible program," one counselor said.

Jennifer Friedhoff, OCYMCA senior youth development director, agreed.

“The team and children love when your group is here,” Friedhoff said to the middle-school readers.