Saturday Sports is off to a great start this fall semester at Ernie Pyle Elementary! After a back-to-school carnival in August, kids and volunteers alike were ready to break out those soccer balls and board games. At the carnival, students and families enjoyed free hot dogs, snow cones, face painting and bounce houses, and also had the opportunity to purchase backpacks filled with supplies for just $3 a piece. The proceeds will be used to support Pyle, as they were at last year's back-to-school event. Families at this year's carnival also had the chance to meet the new principal of Pyle, Mrs. Cherie Walters, who also came out to say hi to the kids and volunteers at our first Saturday Sports of the year.
Fifty kids showed up at 9 AM and they knew the routine: grab a name tag, hug a volunteer and head to the tetherball court or the flag football field. Several parents stuck around to hang out with the kids, too, including three mothers who helped out at the craft table, where kids decorated a huge yellow poster for their new principal. The sign read "Welcome to Pyle, Mrs. Walters". Several students also made her personal cards in honor of her birthday the day before.
The most rewarding moment of the day for me happened when I was approached by a student who had been required to transfer schools the year before due to behavior issues, causing him to miss a semester of Saturday Sports. He gave me a hug and also shook the new principal's hand. His kind, respectful attitude brightened my day, as did his joy over being able to return to Saturday Sports.
Just before passing out lunches, we sat down with the kids and pulled out a a blank poster board. "This is our 'Respect Agreement'," I told them. "The things we write down will be the ways we plan to show respect to each other and to our school, and this poster will be our reminder."
The kids' ideas involved using "kind, respectful language" and "keeping hands to ourselves." We also agreed to respect Pyle school by picking up trash and keeping the bathrooms clean. Finally we assured the kids that the adults planned to show them the same respect and adhere to the Respect Agreement just like them.
One new aspect of our Saturday Sports program this semester will be a rewards system through which children can earn books to take home. We are using the books donated through ENP as well as others brought in by our volunteers to encourage the kids to take responsibility and initiative and to take care of their school. Each week students can sign up to be on the "Clean-Up Crew" and volunteer to pick up trash for ten minutes or to supervise craft clean-up in order to earn one book of their choice from the book bag.
The Bridge Church joins our wonderful volunteers in their excitement over the start of this fourth year of partnership with the Ernie Pyle community. We've developed friendships and trust with the wonderful children who come to spend time with us and we hope we can be as much of a blessing in their lives as they are in ours.