To kick off the new year, Real Salt Lake's very own Leo the Lion, came to visit Barnett Elementary to get students pumped up about being "Wild About Reading." Mr. Austin Cope and Mr. Leo the Lion were the MCs for the assembly, with one of the highlights of the assembly being a reading of Where the Wild Things Are by Mr. Cope, with Leo the Lion acting it out (taking the part of Max). However, Leo couldn't act it out alone. During his journey to where the wild things live, he met some "wild things" that played follow the leader with him, and begged him to stay when he had to leave.
At the conclusion of the assembly, Leo used the Real Salt Lake drum to help students chant "Wild About Reading." Then Blaze, a sixth grader, took over hitting the drum. After which, Leo did a dance competition with several teachers and students at Barnett. The audience chose Jason Christensen, a third grader, as the dance winner. Winners received a t-shirt, backpack, or water bottle.
It was a fun event and helped students get ready to be "Wild About Reading" for the first part of 2015! A big thanks to Mr. Austin Cope, Real Salt Lake, and Leo the Lion for their participation and planning this event.