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Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic Player: Welcome to Mondays with Maria. Here's your superintendent, Dr. Maria Vazquez,

Announcer: Presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez.

Dr. Vazquez: Thank you. Wendell Carter Jr. From the Orlando Magic. Now I bet you're wondering, “What is the Superintendent doing at the Kia Center?” Well, today is our Pick, Read & Roll. A partnership with the Orlando Magic that incentivizes our fourth graders in the area of reading. But I got to tell you, this event is a lot of fun. Watch.

Sebastian, Lancaster ES Student: I'm at the Orlando Magic for a reason. It's because I did good at school for getting the highest votes. That's why I’m here.

Kay Gayle, Orlovista ES Teacher: This event is all about celebrating reading, children, and making that growth. I'm really, really proud of the Orlando Magic and everyone involved for doing something like this for our students. It's incredible.

Charles Freeman, Orlando Magic, President of Business Operations: Such a great way to get back to the kids and to see them all excited and the smiles on their faces, that's what it's all about.

Sebastian, Lancaster ES Student: For meeting the. It's a lot. It's a once-in-a-lifetime. I might not meet them again, but I just did.

Larolyn Ellis, Orlovista ES Teacher: I think the kids enjoy every minute of it. Some of the kids have never had an opportunity to live through this experience. And living in this venue. So it was an awesome experience for all of them.

Charles Freeman, Orlando Magic, President of Business Operations: It's our seventh year of doing Pick, Read & Roll. It's amazing that we've been there that long. And just to see the increase in literacy rates has been fantastic.

Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic Player: I think it's a good thing, you know, especially for coming from us, you know, people that they looked up to, I think it's very important. And hopefully it's something that stands with them.

Charles Freeman, Orlando Magic, President of Business Operations: When you hear numbers, like 30% increases in literacy rates just from this program with our friends at Orange County Public Schools. And again, you can't ask for a better partnership.

Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic Player: It's an honor, and it's something to be in a position like this and to have an impact that goes, goes way beyond basketball.

Kay Gayle, Orlovista ES Teacher: I teach math mainly, but something I always tell my students, you need reading for even math. And they're like, what? I'm like, yeah, how are you going to solve the problems if you can't read? So, reading is very fundamental, and I think that, you know, we can, we should continue to do stuff like this to encourage the kids to read.

James, Orlovista ES Student: Because reading helps you learn.

Joshua, Orlovista ES Student: So, be good and pay attention.

Fayza, Conway ES Student: Work really hard in class. Do all your homework. Do what you're supposed to do. 

Sebastian, Lancaster ES Student: Work hard at school and pay attention in class. 

James, Orlovista ES Student: I'll try my best and the hardest I can.

Dr. Vazquez: Wow. Our students are going to remember this event for a long time. Our partnership has been going on since 2019, and our students who participate have shown a 30-point increase in their reading scores. We are so thankful to the Orlando Magic. I think this partnership is a slam dunk. Thanks for watching. Don't forget to like and follow, and subscribe to the Mondays with Maria Show. We'll see you next week

Announcer: For an extended conversation on today's topic. Listen to the Mondays with Maria podcast. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Mondays with Maria is presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at AdditionFi.com. For more OCPS news and information, visit TheSlice.OCPS.net. I'm your announcer. Emily Hannon, a student at Audubon Park School. Thanks for watching, and have a great week.