More than on-field competition and performance, the Poughkeepsie High School football and cheerleading squads this fall have taken part in activities to serve as role models to elementary school students and assist the greater community.

Last month, members of teams visited the district’s elementary schools to read books with classes and individually with students. In September, the teams assisted at a performance of a play, “The Fateful Hour.” With the play spanning several areas of Upper Landing Park on the riverfront, the athletes moved chairs in-between scenes for attendees in need, such as the elderly.

Head football coach Jayquan Floyd called literacy “a way of life for our students and athletes to become productive and successful members of our community.” He noted both he and head cheerleading coach Lynnece Edmond encourage their students “to develop themselves with setting personal goals and reaching out to the community to understand their importance in the success of the City of Poughkeepsie.”

Senior lineman Henry Gonzalez said the reading sessions were not mandatory, but team members saw the importance of the visits. He read a children’s book called “Around the World.”

“Most of the kids were quiet and enjoying it,” he said. “It’s always a good thing to inspire the youth.”

Floyd said the visits also helped “our younger students gain confidence in their own academic skills, and our team members are learning how they can assist our district in reaching its goals.”

Senior wide receiver Isaiah Williams read “Green Eggs and Ham.”

He said the visits ended up being about more than just reading stories, as the younger students picked the older athletes’ brains. “They were asking how it’s going for us and what we do, so that they know when they get to high school what they will have to do so they can play sports.”

As for the play, Floyd noted attendees showed gratitude to the players, which “showed our students how valuable they can be to others.”