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Top row from left to right, SHS football coaches Rusty Harris and Jeff Turtle. Second row, Derrick Stanley, Kaleb Harris and Chris Smith pose with students from the Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit after readying stories to them.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Sequoyah High School football coaches and players recently read books to the students in the Head Start and Early Head Start classes at the James Danielson Children’s Village in Tahlequah.

"This is a great idea, and I’m sure the coaches and players enjoyed it as much as the children did", said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith.

The team was invited to read to the students as part of the Male and Father Involvement Initiative of the Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit.

"We have some great role models at Sequoyah and I’m glad that we are able to share them with the community through programs like this", said Tony Pivec, SHS superintendent.

If you would like more information on the Male and Father Involvement Initiative (MAFI) of the Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit, or to volunteer to read to students contact Jerry Long, MAFI coordinator, phone: 918-458-4393.

Sequoyah High School "Home of the Indians!" Sequoyah High School is an Indian boarding school which originated in 1871 when the Cherokee National Council passed an act setting up an orphan asylum to take care of the many orphans that came out of the Civil War. Sequoyah High School's approximate 300 enrollment represents 42 tribes and 14 different states. Students are eligible to attend if they are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or one-fourth blood descendants of such members.