Promoting Reading and Teamwork at SASCS

Local News Anchor Promotes Reading and Teamwork While Visiting SASCS Kindergarteners

Christie Casciano, anchor at WSYR-NewsChannel 9, visited SASCS's kindergarten classes to read her children's book, The Puck Hog, on October 14, 2011.

The Puck Hog is about a children's hockey team and what happens when a member of the team is not playing for the team, but for himself. Even though the book is set on the hockey ice, it is more about the benefits of teamwork than one particular sport, Casciano said. Casciano, who was accompanied by her daughter, Sophia, spoke to SASCS kindergarteners about how sports don't only promote athletic skills, but can help build character, too. Sophia also taught our kindergarteners some hockey moves!

In addition to her fun and interactive presentation, Casciano also introduced her program Read More and Score, which she created to encourage children to read.

By: Russell Cox (grade 11)

The Cutest Kindergarten Kids

 
    Why do you wear all that stuff when you play hockey?  How old were you when you started playing?  Do you get scared when you fall?  Do you have any other girls on your team?  The curious little kindergarten kids at the Syracuse Academy of Science had an abundance of questions for my 10 year old hockey player.  Sophia was eager to share her knowledge, and talk about her experiences which shaped the story of The Puck Hog. 
   We had to laugh when we pulled out the knee hockey sticks and asked for two volunteers to demonstrate a tape to tape pass.  When I handed the stick to the little girl we had chosen, she asked, " What do I do with this? " No clue how to hold it.  No clue, really, what it was.  Sophia showed her how to hold the stick and handle the puck, and to our amazement, the demure little lady, whacked that puck clear across the room! Bam!
   Most of the kids weren't familiar with the terms, the game, or the ice.  But they got the message.  Even at the tender age of five, they've had dealings with selfish Eddie types, who only think of themselves. On the playground, in the classroom and in their neighborhoods. When asked for examples of what they could do to be good team players, the answers came, rapid fire.  Pick up papers on the ground, say something nice to someone having a bad day, be quiet for the teacher.  One little girl raised her hand, begging me to call on her.  "I know!  I know!"
   "Great, " I said, " Let's hear!"
She smiled from ear to ear, and stood up to proudly say.....drumroll please.... "All you got to do, is ....PASS THE PUCK!"    
    

A Hockey Hall of Fame Review

Puck Hog news is breaking!  The Puck Hog is now in the Hockey Hall of Fame Resource Centre and archives.  We also received this wonderful review from the Curator. Thank you Philip! 


“Great read for kids of all ages....my son tells me, we are always taught not to be a puck hog on the ice, but reading this book is an exception.”


Philip Pritchard
Vice President, Curator
Hockey Hall of Fame

The Puck Hog makes School Bell News

http://www.liverpool.k12.ny.us/files/826/march11bell.pdf
Morgan Road Elementary


Casciano Shares Children’s Book with MRE


News Channel 9 anchor Christie Casciano recently visited Morgan Road Elementary to talk with students about becoming a children’s book author, and to share her latest creation, The Puck Hog, with them. The book, which was illustrated by her sister Rose Mary Casciano Moziak, tells the story of a youth hockey team that features a player who won’t share the puck with his teammates. Casciano told everyone that she and her sister hope to achieve three goals with this book (just like a “hat-trick” in hockey). “Our first goal
is to get kids passionate about reading and writing; our second goal is to get kids excited
about staying physically fit; and our third goal is to help them appreciate, understand and
Value teamwork and to recognize that cooperation is such an important lifelong lesson,”
she said. The MRE Parent Teacher Organization presented Casciano with an appreciation
basket as a thank you for her informative presentation. Pictured with the author and
news anchor are fourth-graders Ryan Valentine,  left, and Nicholas Klein. In addition to
her visit at MRE, Casciano also visited with students at Donlin Drive, Elmcrest, Liverpool
and Soule Road elementary schools. For more information about MRE, visit the school’s Web
site at www.liverpool.k12.ny.us/mrel

The Puck Hog makes a stop at Lanigan Elementary

http://oswegocountytoday.com/?p=57413
NewsChannel 9’s Christie Casciano Visits Lanigan

Written by: Contributor
Mar 09, 2011 at 10:00 am

Author and WSYR NewsChannel 9 anchor Christie Casciano stopped by Lanigan Elementary School to share with fourth and fifth grade students a book that she recently wrote entitled The Puck Hog. The book follows the story of a youth hockey team vying to be the best in their league and the obstacles that they face when one of their own teammates acts selfishly and unsportsmanlike. The book parallels the character education program at Lanigan Elementary School by promoting a message of teamwork, communication, and respect while also instilling in young readers the importance of making responsible decisions and choices. As an example of her emphasis on teamwork, Casciano asked students Tyler Ruttan and Courtney Miner, left, to demonstrate a ‘tape to tape’ pass.

Join us at Colgate this Saturday!

The Puck Hog with Christie Casciano & Rose Mary Moziak
Saturday, February 12
Start Time: 3:00 PM

This event will take place at Reid Athletic Center on the Colgate campus.

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, local children's author Christie Casciano and illustrator Rose Mary Moziak will discuss and sign copies of their book The Puck Hog, about a co-ed youth hockey team with a selfish teammate.
This event is free. The book is geared mostly towards ages 6-10, but children of all ages and their families are welcome. 

About the book:

A youth hockey team wants to be the best in the league, but their biggest challenge isn’t an opposing team, it’s Eddie, their puck-hogging teammate. A trip to a Syracuse Crunch game and a pivotal moment on the ice may convince Eddie to become a better teammate, but will it be enough?














About the author:

Christie Casciano Burns is a television news anchor in Syracuse, New York, and the mother of two youth hockey players. She wrote this book because she loves youth hockey and wants to encourage the values of fair play, playing together as a team, playing hard, and having fun!

4th grader Reviews The Puck Hog

by Jamie Howard
    (4th grade student and hockey player)
  The Puck Hog, by Christie Casciano, is about a teammate who will not pass the puck.  He always scores a goal.  At first, the team thought it was awesome.  But then they started to stop cheering for him.  They took him to the Crunch game to see if a little Crunch magic would help him get into passing.  The next game they faced the Thunder Birds.  The coach said, " We need a captain."
  The game felt longer than it was.  It was tied 2 to 2 with 2 minutes left.  Sophia got the puck from the face-off; she skated up to the net when a big defenseman came towards her.  She passed to Eddie and he took a shot.  He scored a goal.  Sophia taught Eddie to pass.

   Nice job Jamie!  Jamie 's review was published in his school's newsletter shortly after my visit to his classroom. Jamie's on my daughter's hockey team, and was on the mite team the year I wrote the book.  He's a great little hockey player, with good character!  Below are a few of the many handwritten ( and well-written) thank you letters I've been receiving from school kids.  I love 
the art work, especially the drawings that make me look 30 years younger! 

The Puck Hog on Book Store Shelves

 Special thanks to the staff at Barnes & Noble in Clay for placing The Puck Hog in a prominent spot in the store and adding a "staff recommends" card!

 I hope your children will enjoy reading The Puck Hog, as much as I enjoyed writing it!

The Puck Hog on Track for Publishing

I met with the publisher again yesterday and The Puck Hog is right on schedule. The book should be on store shelves and available for purchase in October. Timing looks good, and should time out for the start of the 2010-2011 hockey season. The manuscript is being carefully reviewed by an editor right now and the illustrations are nearly complete. It's all very exciting and my marvelous tour of North Country Books has reaffirmed my belief that I knocked on the right door in my search for the perfect publisher. I'll keep you posted on the book's progress.

To be continued....