Athletics
Student-Centered Health and Physical Education
It was encouraging to hear this week that the provincial government’s revised health and physical education curriculum, which will be implemented next fall, places a strong emphasis on healthy living and encourages students to develop skills necessary to lead active lives throughout their adult years. The revised curriculum will shift away from traditional large group games such as basketball and volleyball and instead place greater focus on the skills related to individual fitness.
We foresaw the shift several years ago. Our health and physical education teachers have maintained strong ties with OPHEA through attending and presenting at their yearly conferences. Consequently, they led the school in the development of Grade 10 and 11 Personal Fitness courses. Students enrolled in these courses learn how to develop a personal fitness program and use the GoodLife facility across the street to work towards their goals. They also have guest instructors come and offer instruction in pilates, yoga and cardio-aerobics.
Overall, physical activity is a big part of the Greenwood culture. We have intermurals three times a week–last term’s focus was European handball, and this term the students have formed a basketball league. Close to two-thirds of our high school students enrol in physical education courses beyond the compulsory course offered in Grade 9. A slightly higher percentage of students participate on a school team. We also make good use of the skating rink across the street. It is a nice sight seeing the students returning from the rink, skates and stick over the shoulder, walking in twos and threes. Kind of takes me back to my youthful days out on the ice…
The Importance of Teamwork
This past weekend emphasized how important teamwork is here at Greenwood. On Friday evening I attended our Junior play, which was a wonderful adaptation of Peter Pan. Over fifty students and teachers were involved in the production. The students who trod the boards were fantastic. The acting and singing were superb, and more importantly they were fully engaged in putting forth the best show possible (which they did!) Behind the scenes, we had students coordinating backstage mechanics, providing sound, painting scenery and designing costumes. Through it all they received enthusiastic support from several teachers. Not surprisingly, they produced one of the most memorable events in Greenwood’s short history.
We also had two teams competing in the CIS finals. The U-16 Girls’ basketball team won the championship, which marked the second year in a row that we have won at this particular level. I was really impressed with how well the girls moved the ball on the court. Time after time, the girls opted not to take the low percentage long-shot and instead passed the ball in order to take advantage of a shot that was closer to the hoop. Though our U-20 boys’ volleyball team lost to UCC, they played hard throughout the three-game set. Certainly, the final game could have gone either way. I was really pleased with the way the boys supported one another and refused to cede victory to the much larger school. Both teams exhibited the kind of character we believe is important here at Greenwood.
Championship Weekend
The past weekend was another great one for Greenwood athletics. The weekend started early on Friday afternoon when our U-14 Girls’ Volleyball team won the first of our three championships. The first match was a nailbiter–our side won 27-25 over Pickering. I was so impressed with the patience and composure of the team, as well as the skill level. I last saw them play at the beginning of the year and was impressed with their growth as a team. Though I didn’t get to the game, it was gratifying to see that our U-16 Girls’ Volleyball team won their first championship. We have now won a banner at all three levels in girls’ volleyball, which speaks volumes about the level of coaching and commitment from our athletes throughout our volleyball program.
Our boys’ basketball teams also had a great day. Our U-20 team beat RSGC for the championship; this marks the third year in a row that this particular group of athletes has won a championship, which is quite an accomplishment. Kudos to Lub, master of the pep talk, who has been their coach throughout this time. Even though the U-14 and U-16 teams did not win, I was so impressed with the way they played. Both teams played opponents with considerable skill, but our guys never quit. They played hard and worked as a team. It was inspiring to see the U-14 team come back from a 15-point deficit–with one minute to go, they narrowed the lead to two points. It was also wonderful to see the level of commitment from our parents. It means a great deal to the coaches and athletes to know they have this kind of support in the stands. On to the spring!
Learning to Lose
It has been a great deal of fun watching our fall sports teams in the playoffs over the past week and a half. Seeing how hard our athletes and coaches work reminds me of the important role athletics plays in our school. As I said to the students in assembly two weeks ago, being part of a team provides you with critical life skills. One of the other things you learn from athletics which is less celebrated is dealing with defeat. Though it is never easy to accept, there is a positive side to losing. I once coached a high school football team that used a narrow loss against St. Mike’s to motivate them throughout their pre-season training and then into the season. In a larger sense, losing can provide a degree of resilience that is necessary in other areas of life. I believe the sports pundits refer to this as mental toughness.