Students from Prodigy Leadership Academy read to animals at the Humane Society

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Grace Kyle, a third-grade student at Prodigy Leadership Academy, reads to Marley, a Great Pyrenees mix, at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau. Since March, third and fourth grade students from the academy have been spending a portion of their Monday afternoons reading to the dogs and cats at the shelter. The mutually beneficial activity helps the animals to trust people, and helps the children with their reading skills. Monday was the final day of this school year that the students were reading at the shelter. The group of students are sponsoring Emma, a 6-7 year-old black and white cat. The sponsorship will pay for Emma's spay, a feline leukemia test and a rabies vaccine.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Colton Wheeler, a fourth-grade student at Prodigy Leadership Academy, reads to Buddy, an eight-year-old beagle, at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Manny Kinder, left, and Daniel Ivanovich, students at Prodigy Leadership Academy, read to puppies at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Ian Edwards, a third-grade student at Prodigy Leadership Academy, reads to Gage at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Grace Kyle, a third-grade student at Prodigy Leadership Academy, reads to a litter of Labrador mix puppies at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com A student from Prodigy Leadership Academy reads to a puppy at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com A kitten reaches out to a student from Prodigy Leadership Academy while he reads a book to her at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Manny Kinder, left, and Daniel Ivanovich, students at Prodigy Leadership Academy, read to puppies at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Manny Kinder, left, and Daniel Ivanovich, students at Prodigy Leadership Academy, read to puppies at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Chloe, and eight-year-old beagle mix, smiles at visitors at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Ian Edwards, a third-grade student at Prodigy Leadership Academy, reads to Gage at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Addie Long and Manny Kinder, students at Prodigy Leadership Academy, read to puppies at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Harken Cork, left, reads to Patton, and Colton Wheeler reads to Buddy at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Ian Edwards, a third-grade student at Prodigy Leadership Academy, reads to Gage at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semisourian.com Students of Prodigy Leadership Academy group together in the cat room after their final reading session at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Monday, May 16, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.