Charlie Brown, Snoopy visit Steele Creek Elementary

Mike Fehnel, general manager and vice president at Carowinds, read to dozens of students Oct. 22 at Steele Creek Elementary School to promote a Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools reading program.

Fehnel read “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” followed by a visit from Charlie Brown and Snoopy. He also invited students to The Great Pumpkin Fest at Carowinds, running through Nov. 1.

The North Star Reading Partners initiative brings volunteers and community partners to read with students. The goal is to promote literacy in the younger grades. The district is looking for thousands of volunteers for at least one reading session a week.

Steele Creek Principal Merita Little said Carowinds coming to the school is the latest community partnership that helps her school and Kennedy Middle School and Olympic High School, among others.

“We’re all part of a feeder system,” she said. “Steele Creek to Kennedy to Olympic. We all benefit.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Charlie Brown, Snoopy visit Steele Creek Elementary."