Little Leaguers is an absolutely wonderful program. Often young students are not included in team sports (intramurals) until grade 4. My students absolutely love it when it is their day for Little Leaguers. When they hear the team names announced for the game they pump their arms in the air with pure excitement! I love watching their faces when they realize it is their day! It is thrilling to see grade ones play the games. It allows them to feel special, to be physically active, to learn about team sports and to be mentored by older primary students. It promotes great leadership for the older students (grade threes) who will move into junior division with more confidence and experience of what it means to truly be a team player. As a coach, I have seen young students who have already excellent physical skills and team leadership skills due to their experience in playing little leaguers and intramurals. For some students, this program is the only organized sports that they may ever play. And what a fabulous program it is!
Cara McQueen – grade 1 teacher
My grade 2 students eagerly anticipate Little Leaguers. I think that it contributes to their sense of community and team enthusiasm as they mix with other classes and grades, not to mention the wonderful fitness benefits.
Claire McElhinney – grade 2 teacher
Here are some thoughts on why house league is so great here:
- Active participation for kids of all abilities
- Allows leadership roles for older students
- Positive role modeling
- Fitness benefits
- Chance to be included in a group (especially for kids who are not included at recess)
- School spirit
- Something at recess for those who complain that "there's nothing to do"
Wendy Willmets – grade 6 teacher
I think that intramurals do a great deal for the spirit of the school. They encourage fitness and a love of fitness. They foster a safe, competitive attitude in an atmosphere of fair play, and they offer a chance to some of the older students for taking responsibilities such as scoring and refereeing. They encourage team captains to look out for the littler ones and the weaker ones and to involve them in the game. They promote team spirit. And they are fun.
Peter Scott – French teacher
I strongly believe that is the foundation of our school community and I don’t believe we would have the same positive atmosphere at our school if we did not have intramurals. The principal does not have to deal with too many student issues because they have been taught to cooperate and play nice together and how to include individuals. We always have a small scale of this in the yard, but intramurals certainly helps in the yard.
Trevor Klein – grade 8 teacher
This from a parent who has one child involved with intramurals and two children in Little Leagues:
I know it is one of the highlights of my kids’ week at school. They think it is great fun and wish they could have it every day! Funny you should ask today, as just last night before Katie went to bed she was checking to see what day it was and was delighted it was Tuesday as she thought it was her turn for Little Leaguers. She also asked if, when you get in the higher grades, you get to go more often - a sure sign she loves it!
Michael also enjoys the House league and wishes he could play more often (he would play everyday if he could). He is disappointed during times where it has been cancelled. He enjoys the opportunity to try different games like handball for example that he wouldn't otherwise play. As a parent, I think you do an amazing job with this! I think it is good that children who might not ever have the opportunity to play at a team sport have the opportunity to do so and I also am a firm believer in making sure the students are involved in some vigorous activity throughout the day! I would love to see that basement utilized for more physical activity opportunity!
Joan Heath (parent)
I (Johanne) have to add that when Michael moved from Little Leaguers to intramurals with the older students he was quite excited and was heard to say to his friend, Thomas : “Look, we get the score clock.” That made my day and I truly realized that all of the efforts for running a program like ours is really worth it.
I am very proud of St. Mary School for a multitude of reasons. One program in particular is the intramural activities that are offered over the lunch hour. Samuel is in Little Leaguers. The socialization with other children, boys and girls, from other primary grades is very important to him. He says quite simply, “Mom, I get to play games with other kids – it’s not about winning.”
Benjamin is in the house league program. His benefits include skill development, volunteerism, commitment to team play, and promotion of leadership. He has proudly taken on a referee role for the primary students on top of his participation in his own program.
We are in an era where child obesity is a prevalent health concern and school boards struggle to add an extra 20 minutes of physical activity to the curriculum. St. Marys is ahead of its time with the program that meets not just the physical needs of students, but spiritual and emotional ones as well.
Janice King (parent)
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