“I think this was a great outcome for our kids. Many say this generation of kids aren’t as active as older generations were, so I feel this is a way to have our kids active, and it’ll also give our kids early experiences as they move further within athletics,” Coach Deauntae Colvin told us at the recent Bessemer Elementary Basketball Tournament.
Noise is often irritable, but when it’s noise of applause, encouragement and cheer, it makes all the difference. Such was heard during the recent Kenneth E. Gulley Rec Center basketball tournament that featured teams of Bessemer’s school system students. Teams consisted of girls and boys playing together for a competitive goal, and it was all even more exciting than an NBA game by our standards.
Coach Jeremy Clements (West Hills 4th Grade Math Teacher) told us, “We managed to come out with a win despite foul trouble. We’re just proud of the kids and all they’ve managed to do, because this is all about them.”
With enthusiasm and a willingness to learn the fundamentals of the game, students and parents were a part of a function that boasted inclusion, fun and team efforts.
The finals ended with separate grade levels playing for the big trophy, as West Hills went up against Hard Elementary, and the higher grade levels competed for it all with West Hills against Empower.
The end results were a win-win for all involved, for it shows the potential, awareness and capabilities of our students, parents and teachers coming together for the benefit of community and our kids.
Mr. Fred Thomas (Rec Leader) told us, “We want to reintroduce sports in our elementary schools as we also look forward to introducing soccer, track and even flag football to the kids. This is based on helping build our kids’ self-esteem, and overall due to a slow start. I’m thankful to our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and everyone who played a part here, for staying with us, and having the parents say ‘we really enjoyed this’ means the world to me.”
Every child left with a trophy for their efforts and triumphs within the sports program. Actual Bessemer City School system teachers and staff members also were on the sidelines as team coaches.
We look forward to the possibility of a full-out sports league that will bring even more parents and kids together for a successful program such as this.
“Keep Winning All!”
