Student Athletes help students Excercise the Right Choice
Friday, October 21, 2016
You never get too old for reading and playing.
Student-athletes from Newington High School demonstrated this when they visited Anna Reynolds and Ruth Chaffee Elementary Schools Tuesday afternoon.
Twelve varsity captains from different sports teams returned to their respective primary schools to connect with younger students in Newington Parks and Recreation’s Exercise the Right Choice program. After reading and discussing books with the kids, the teens headed back to NHS for team practices.
"We want to get students in our Athletic Leadership Council focused on giving back to the community," NHS Athletic Director Chris Myers said of the effort. "This is a great way to get them engaged with the younger student population and make a connection between past and present students."
The parks program accommodates families every other Tuesday, when Newington’s four elementary schools dismiss early for professional development. Ruth Chaffee’s 24 participants had the opportunity to spend their afternoon with six older kids this week. The group gathered in the gymnasium to read "Dino-swimming" together. Afterwards, kids had the chance to imagine themselves inside the story and illustrate their visions.
"Our goal is to have them better understand the reading and the importance of it all," field hockey captain Karley Welles, 17, said.
She and varsity boys soccer captain Kevin Bilbraut walked around their old school before kids were dismissed, even finding a few of their former teachers.
"It looks a lot smaller now," Bilbraut pointed out.
NHS girls soccer co-captains Karli Hellman and Madison Lewicki also participated Tuesday.
"It’s kind of cool to be back here," Hellman said.
Parks and Rec. site director Ashley Fontana noticed the younger group was more bouncy than usual.
"You can tell; they like it when there’s a change in activity, something new," she pointed out.
Next month 12 more students will engage with kids in Exercise the Right Choice at John Paterson and Elizabeth Green schools. Parks and Recreation intern Joe Harvey helps to facilitate these special encounters.
"It’s a good experience for the young kids to meet the student- athletes," Harvey said this week.
He hopes other school organizations will be interested in spending some time with the kids as well.
"We’d like to get the children in our program exposed to as much as possible regarding their interests."
Myers intends to keep student-athletes involved throughout the school year.
"The plan is to do this each season," he said. "As we evaluate academics as a whole our students need to hone in on certain skills; one of those is reading. Our kids are going to try to make reading fun for the elementary school students. We want them to get excited so they realize it can be a positive part of their lives."
Erica Schmitt can be reached at 860-801-5097, or eschmitt@centralctcommunications.com.
Courtesy of the NB Herald
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