MEAC Recognize Hall-Woodward Elementary School for Reading Patricia Porter 03/05/09 10 Area School Participated in Community Reading Program VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 5 - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is proud to congratulate the fourth graders of Hall-Woodward Elementary School of Communications in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for reading the most books as a part of the MEAC’s community reading program.  The READ with the MEac program encouraged all fourth graders of the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School System (WSFCS) to read books, while keeping track, from Feb. 2 through Feb. 27. The program was organized and managed by the MEAC’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) and was intended to encourage education and promote the love of reading.  Over 6,680 books were read during the program with 10 area schools participating. Participating students received a bookmark and ticket voucher to the 2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament, March 10-14, at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (LJVM).  In celebrating their reading achievements Hall-Woodward Elementary fourth graders will receive a visit from various members of the MEAC’s 2009 men’s and women’s basketball teams on March 9. The student-athletes will participate in a Read Day with the fourth graders while celebrating Dr. Seuss and NCAE’s Read Across America. Additionally, the MEAC’s Student Athletes Advisory Committee (SAAC) will provide a monetary donation to the school’s media center.  Plus, Hall-Woodward Elementary School and their fourth-graders will be recognized on Youth Day, Tuesday, March 10 at halftime of the 6:30 p.m. basketball tournament game. The top eight readers will also serve as ball boys/girls during the game.  “Read with the MEAC is a wonderful way to advocate and promote reading. Our kids have been extremely excited about this experience,” said Dr. Essie McKoy, Hall-Woodward Principal. “Their level of enjoyment for reading has been heightened. We teach them that reading is the foundation of all learning.” The 2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off Tuesday, March 10, and will conclude on Saturday, March 14, with the men’s and women’s championship games. Tickets for the tournament are on sale now at www.MEAChoops.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or at any MEAC member institution.