POULSBO — Students in the Poulsbo Elementary School gymnasium roared ecstatically as members of the Seattle Mariners D.R.E.A.M. Team — led by the Mariner Moose —  arrived to talk about Drug-free, Respect, Education, Attitude, and Motivation, Jan. 26.

Mariners pitchers Steve Cishek and Charlie Furbush, sportscaster Aaron Goldsmith, and team community programs manager Sean Grindley  encouraged kids to D.R.E.A.M. always. The kids learned the elements of D.R.E.A.M., watched a film, and received Mariners memorabilia. But the real showstopper was the Mariner Moose, the team’s mascot.

As the Moose danced around the gym, students, parents and teachers giggled and cheered.

“They loved the Moose. They were pretty fired up about him,” Poulsbo Elementary School gym teacher Bob Webb said.

Webb reached out to the Mariners D.R.E.A.M. Team a few months ago in hopes of arranging a surprise visit for the school.

“Seven or eight years ago, they came out to Breidablik, but it took a long time to get them. This time was on the first try,” Webb said. He said the D.R.E.A.M. Team was visiting a school in Port Angeles as well, so it may have been easier for them to make the stop.

“[When I wrote them], I told them how this is a baseball community … that we have Snider Park and how the kids love the baseball unit at our school,” Webb said. “Our school motto this year is, ‘Together We Are Powerful.’ I think the D.R.E.A.M. Team message dovetails our motto.”

As Grindley addressed the young audience, he asked them, “What are your dreams?”

Hands in the crowd shot up as answers funneled in — dancer, engineer, pop star.

Grindley pointed to Cishek and Furbush, saying those guys wanted to be baseball players but they had to D.R.E.A.M. to do it.

Members of the D.R.E.A.M. Team took turns explaining the fundamentals of the program.

Furbush, whose fast pitch, according to Grindley, has been clocked at 93 mph, took the stage first to talk about drug abstinence.

“Because I had a dream, I now get to put on this great Mariners uniform and talk to you,” he said. “I’m here to tell you to stay drug-free forever. None of this would have happened unless I was drug free.”

Cishek described the second value in D.R.E.A.M. — respect.

“This puts you in a great place to grow up as an adult,” he said.

After the importance of education and attitude were explained, Goldberg took the mic and talked about motivation. “The best way to stay motivated is to have a role model like your mom or dad, a teacher, or even a Mariner,” he said.

The kids clapped as both Mariners pitchers and the Mariner Moose jumped into the crowd to watch a motivational film.

“Hearing this from a big-league player is special,” Webb said. “We could tell them all day but hearing it from those guys is pretty memorable.”

Poulsbo Elementary School Principal Claudia Alves agreed. “They are not just athletes on T.V., but real people and great role models to talk about attitude, education and respect. Things like that don’t happen that often. It was a really exciting day and it had an impact on kids and parents as well.”

Cishek, who explained how memorable it was to come out as a ball player and present the kids with this information, said, “This is very special to us.”

Furbush added, “Ideally, I hope [the kids] can learn the full D.R.E.A.M. motto. If they can take all of it away that would be great, but all together it’s to help them become a better person. Any way we can give back to the community … I feel extremely fortunate to give back to the younger generation.”

Webb, who hoped the D.R.E.A.M. Team message resonated with the kids, said he was thanked all day for his efforts to get the Mariners to Poulsbo. While the students received Mariners gifts, the lessons of D.R.E.A.M., and unforgettable memories, Webb received hugs, thanks and praise from faculty and students.

“It was really a privilege, and I really appreciate Bob for making sure everything that needed to happen, happened,” Alves said.