Sidney Glen Elementary School hosted its first story hour of the school year on Tuesday, embarking on its 11th year of the program, which emphasizes the importance of parents reading to their children.

Joy Corbett has been teaching for over 20 years.

“Sidney Glen has been offering a story hour for the past 10 years,” said Corbett, first grade teacher and Story Hour coordinator at the school. “This is a time for parents to sit with their kids and snuggle up with a book. We want parents in our schools and reading with their kids.”

Students from kindergarten to the second grade were invited, along with their families.

Story hour is held in the school’s library once a month from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. The next Story Hour is scheduled for Nov. 8.

Guest readers spend half and hour reading to the group and then parents read to their children for the remainder of the hour. A healthy snack of popcorn and juice makes for a great nightcap.

Tuesday’s guest readers were members of the South Kitsap High School boys basketball team and coach John Callaghan.

“The high school basketball players did a wonderful job reading and connecting with the students,” Corbett said. “Some of them had been students here themselves.”

According to Corbett, reading to children offers them many benefits including developing creative thinking skills, enhancing language and vocabulary development and family time together.

Students can get a head start in life by developing a love for reading and books early.

“We hope the attendance increases every month as the awareness of the event increases,” Corbett said.

For more information, call Corbett at Sidney Glen Elementary at (360) 443-3400.