The Atlanta Braves mascot, Homer, made a guest appearance at East Fayette Elementary School recently, appealing to students to be the best they can be.

With the assistance of Leslie Holt, a spokesman for the Braves, the school's fourth and fifth graders were encouraged to cross the diamond's four bases to score a grand slam in life. Stay in school, read and keep up with current events, stay physically fit and say “No” to drugs and play it safe, were the directives issued to the kids.

The Grand Slam program is a 45-minute school assembly designed for student in grades one through six. It is sponsored by First Union National Bank of Georgia and since it began in January 1990, its message has reached more than 400,000 students across the state.

— Pat Newman