Woodstock High School athletes are teaming up with Woodstock Elementary School students to teach them the importance of reading to be successful in life.

Through the new "reading buddies" program, football players and varsity cheerleaders are taking a half hour out of their schedule to read to students before their day begins.

Woodstock Elementary second-grade teacher Debby Pinion came up with the idea for the program. She asked Woodstock High football head coach Mike O'Brien and head football and competition cheerleading coach Amy Bowles if their student athletes would help show her class it is "cool" to read.

O'Brien, who participated in a similar initiative while coaching in Valdosta, said he was delighted to do it.

Between 20 and 30 juniors and seniors on the football team are reading to Woodstock Elementary students, O'Brien said, adding they wear their jerseys for the visits each Thursday. A few of Woodstock's varsity cheerleaders make a trip to the elementary school each Friday in uniform.

O'Brien said he often tries to instill in his players that they are role models to younger children, whether they want to admit it or not.

"I think they are starting to understand that a lot more," he said.

Mrs. Bowles, a special education teacher, said she asked the cheerleaders to participate because it would: "promote reading with our feeder schools [and give the girls] an opportunity to be great leaders and role models for young students."

Each time the girls go, she said, they are more eager to return the next week and spend their 30 minutes with the young students.

Mrs. Pinion said each week, the atmosphere at Woodstock Elementary also bursts with excitement when the football players and cheerleaders walk the halls.

On the first Thursday the football players came to Woodstock Elementary, one of Mrs. Pinion's students asked her, "Do big, strong football players read?"

Mrs. Pinion said she replied, "Yes," and the student remarked, "Then get me a book!"

"They are seeing that it's cool to read," she said.

Second-grader Zachary Baitcher, 7, son of Randy and Cheryl Baitcher of Woodstock, said he likes seeing the football players come to the school in their jerseys. His favorite book for the players to read is "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss.

Classmate Gabby Troche, 7, daughter of Pabel and Nicole Troche of Woodstock, said she likes when the cheerleaders come and read each Friday.

Gabby, who has an older sister attending Woodstock High, is a cheerleader with the South Cherokee Recreation Association and said she looks up to the older girls.

"It's good" that they come, she said of football players and cheerleaders.

The participating cheerleaders all said they have thoroughly enjoyed reading to the students.

"It honestly fills our hearts with joy that they look up to us as role models," they said in a joint e-mail.

Cheerleaders participating are: junior Ashley Wallace, 16, daughter of Laura Hurter and Keith Wallace of Canton; senior Caitlin Harrison, 17, daughter of Cheryl and Gary Harrison of Sixes; senior Katie Wilkie, 18, daughter of David and Lynna Wilkie of Canton; and senior Mary Swantek, 17, daughter of Jim and Lisa Swantek of BridgeMill.

Woodstock football team defensive captain Drew Yeargin, a senior, said he is a reading buddy because he wants to "give back" to the community.

Drew, 17, son of John and Julie Yeargin of Woodstock, said it feels good to have the elementary school students marvel at what he and his teammates are doing.

Linebacker Drew Carmichael, 18, son of Dan and Robyn Carmichael of Sixes, said he hopes the young students take in the importance of reading.

He added the project also is a way to show that Woodstock High students "are here for the community," adding he urges other athletes to get involved.

Being involved and giving back to the community, O'Brien said, is something the athletes can benefit from in the long run.

For Mrs. Bowles, the message the endeavor sends to younger children is just as important as the one sent to the athletes.

"For (Woodstock Elementary School) students, I think it is great for them to see that cheerleaders and football players do read," she said. It shows them "that academics are important and even the 'big' kids have to and love to read."