C's first day of school!
Oh gosh, it was sweet. All those little 14 year olds, dressed up in their brand-new, no-iron shirts and ties and chinos.
C. has been going to the school for the past week and a half to run cross country even though he's not a cross country kid. He's been doing that because the coach sent each freshman a welcome letter inviting him to join the team, telling him it would be a good way to make new friends if he didn't know anyone at the school. There would be no cuts, the coach said, and kids were free to leave the team if it wasn't for them.
Basically, the coach "pitched" the team to the kids! That's something I haven't seen before.
The school actively works to get as many kids involved in organized sports as possible. This goal is so important (I gather) that they give parents their figures for number-of-kids-in-sports. Three of the teams make no cuts: track, swimming, and wrestling. Then they have an extensive set of intramural sports, too. They want everyone playing.
The cross country experience has been a blinding success -- amazing! Karen Pryor should write a book about this place. In just one week C. has taken two (three?) minutes off his time, made new friends, taken the train by himself, and absorbed the concept of "personal best" and competing against yourself when you're just starting out and it's not your sport.
There hasn't been a false note at this school. Not one.
It's amazing.
Wow! Cross country is so great. Last year my son took up cross country. He was one of four 7th graders on the team. Each week he improved his speed until he came in 3rd at the end of the season meet. When the season ended, they continued training and several of the students ran the P.F. Chang's half marathon. Cole finished the 13 miles in 2:24.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful news! I'm thrilled for both you and Christopher. Also, I look forward to hearing more about your school experiences. Dare I say it...it's like a breath of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fantastic start to the school year. I am so looking foward to hearing more and more details. Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to more of your comparisons between before and after. I will comment that (for K-8), we don't have any of those private schools in our area. Maybe it changes for high school.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you feel much more constructive than adversarial. I'll also bet that it doesn't cost the school very much in time, effort, or money. It probably saves them a lot of grief over the long run.
Wonderful! Glad the school is positive and interested in physical well-being for everyone.
ReplyDeleteMy older kiddo went out for CC too...4 boys and 16 girls in modified out of roughly 1000 eligible. The atmosphere is refreshing since the focus is on improving and personal best, instead of supporting a teammate who has been training year-round since preschool. Ds is interested in improving his Orienteering time and figures this is a good way to learn how to run a trail. So far so good.
Catherine
ReplyDeleteWhat school are you going to now?
Dee Hodson
Unsolicited valuable suggestion:
ReplyDeleteTry very hard to have C be on the speech and debate team for one or two years. If possible, encourage him to participate in either the extemporaneous event(s) or impromptu (sp?).
The ability to stand up in front of a random crowd and speak well will serve him for the rest of his life.
-Mark Roulo
Good advice again from Roulo. I wish I had done more in the way of public speaking, and less in the way of worrying about grades.
ReplyDeleteHomeschooling Dad.
I'm glad that it's working out so well. Good luck for the rest of the term. :)
ReplyDeleteMock trial, if it's offered at the school, is another valuable speaking-on-your-feet opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been waiting for this post! So happy to hear this.
ReplyDeleteOur high school track coach did a similar outreach to build his team to unprecedented numbers last year. I don’t know the details about how it turned out, though I heard a few positive anecdotes. Also, I got used to watching LOTS of kids, of all sizes, running through our local streets.
He was one of four 7th graders on the team. Each week he improved his speed until he came in 3rd at the end of the season meet.
ReplyDeletewow!
Fantastic!
Cross country is hard, right?? (Shows how much I know.)
My nephew was a cross country runner in high school (has decided not to join the team in college - running, music, and academics are too much).
Dee - do I have your email address? I'll check. Mine is cijohn @ verizon.net
ReplyDeleteI've tried not to post the name of the school (though it's not hard to guess if you're from the area) since C. is in high school now....and it's a new relationship with a new institution, etc.
I'll see if I can send an email.
Wait a minute - you're a member, right?
ReplyDeleteIf so, I've got your email....
Try very hard to have C be on the speech and debate team for one or two years.
ReplyDeleteFantastic advice!
Thanks, Mark & Vicky.
That is EXACTLY what he needs. By nature he's somewhat shy AND he's cautious. Pretty much the opposite of a center-stage sort of person.
He absolutely needs to do one or the other.
Very good advice.
As a matter of fact, I think Ed had already been talking about this but both of us had forgotten-----(bit of a whirlwind with the transition to new schools for 2 kids & YAI for Jimmy).
ReplyDeleteOur high school track coach did a similar outreach to build his team to unprecedented numbers last year.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
The letter was so welcoming it didn't cross my mind he might be trying to build the team!
Funny.
I love the new Hogwarts label. How very perfect.
ReplyDelete