Coach Bill's Corner

The elementary school annual sports day is Friday February 24th. All families are invited to attend. Students will bring home a program for ES Sports day the week before on Friday February 17th. Students will participate as a class in a variety of activities that promote an active lifestyle, teamwork, and developing physical skills. Our focus is understanding that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge and social interaction. We also expect students to display good sportsmanship. Outlined below are some of the sportsmanship issues we discuss with children. As parents you can play a significant role in helping your child become a good sport. We also ask parents to assist at each station with your child where appropriate. Please ask the staff member in charge at each station how you might assist. We look forward to seeing you on Sports Day 2012.

What parents can do to promote good sportsmanship.

1. Be a good role model for your children. Children learn by example, so show them how to practice good sportsmanship by not always expecting to win. Explain that winning is not always an option, but that it is always appropriate to be a good sport.

2. Good sportsmanship is a side effect of having good character. Teach your children how to interact with their elders, coaches and peers with a positive attitude, one that shows respect for all involved in the game.

3. Keep your ego out of your children’s game. Some parents, never having had the opportunity to play a sport (or play it well), live vicariously through their children’s sports success. Stay focused on your children’s best interests and get over your own high school insecurity.

4. Healthy competition is great, but make sure to emphasize other aspects of the game. Friendship, skill, exercise and good sportsmanship are major factors that contribute to a successful experience. After games ask your child “Did you enjoy that?” rather than “Did you win?” or “Who won?” Remember the number one reason that children consistently give as to why they participate in sport, is to have fun and be with friends. Emphasize this aspect in your post game conversations.

5. Acknowledge and praise other team members and members of the opposite team. Likewise, address and correct negative behavior immediately.

6. Mind your sideline behavior. Do not try to coach the coach, your children or other members of the team during the game. Regardless of how bad the call, refrain from yelling at the official.

7. Teach your children how to take personal responsibility for situations. If your child made a bad play, so what? Don’t point fingers or pass blame on to someone else – or encourage your child to do so – to prevent your child from having a hurt ego.

8. Good sportsmanship involves sharing. Even if your child made the winning basket, teach him to include the whole team in the glory. Remind your child that it takes teamwork to win a game. Losing – On Your Own Sometimes kids lose on their own, like in a neighborhood game of basketball. These situations can be extra-hard if there are no grownups around to be the referees. Then it’s up to kids to decide among themselves whether something counted as a basket or a foul. It’s good for kids to learn to play without a grownup deciding everything but it also can lead to a lot of arguing. Each kid wants his or her team to win and may feel very strongly about plays that don’t go the team’s way. How do you solve these disagreements? It’s best if everyone tries to be fair. Some kids still might cheat or bend the rules, but you can do your best to be fair. That might mean giving the other team the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you thought a basket shouldn’t count and the other team thinks it’s OK. If it’s close, you might say, “OK, it can count.” Hopefully, the other team will be just as sportsmanlike when one of your calls could go either way. Even if they’re not, you certainly can’t be accused of cheating or playing unfairly. You’ve done your part to bring good sportsmanship to the game. Kids who are good sports – and don’t freak out when they lose – will become known as kids who are fun to play with. Kids might not be as eager to play with someone who gets angry all the time and won’t ever give the other guy or girl a break.

10 Ways to Be a Good Sport

Here are some ways that you can show others what good sportsmanship is all about:

1. Be polite to everyone you’re playing with and against. No trash talk – which means saying mean things while you’re in the middle of a game.

2. Don’t show off. Just play your best. If you’re good, people will notice.

3. Tell your opponents “good game!” whether you’ve won or you’ve lost.

4. Learn the rules of the game. Show up for practices and games on time – even if you’re the star of the team.

5. Listen to your coaches and follow their directions about playing.

6. Don’t argue with an official if you don’t agree with his or her call. If you don’t understand a certain call, wait until after the game to ask your coach or the official to explain it to you.

7. Don’t make up excuses or blame a teammate when you lose. Try to learn from what happened.

8. Be willing to sit out so other team members can get in the game – even if you think you’re a better player.

9. Play fair and don’t cheat.

10. Cheer for your teammates even if the score is 1,000-1! You could inspire a big comeback!

Reviewed by: Steve Sanders, PhD Date reviewed: August 2005 http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=307&cat_id=20070&article_set=22069

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES (AFAC) for KINDERGARTEN After School Activities for Kindergarten will begin on January 25, 2012 and will end on May 23, 2012. It will be held every Wednesday from 2:20 to 3:15 pm. The program is strictly for Kindergarten students only. There are going to be 6 sections of students and each will be supervised by teacher assistants. They will assist the activity coaches and escort students to their activities. They will pick up/return your child to/from the Kindergarten Hallway every Afterschool Activities day. Your child will stay with their section and attend all activities described below on a monthly rotation (a different activity every month) and it is free of charge! TRANSPORTATION: • After the activities, Bus riders will be picked up by their respective bus mothers from the Kindergarten Hallway • Other students must be picked up by their parents/guardians at 3:15 from the Kindergarten corridor; students who are not picked up by 3:20 will be taken to the ES office • Teacher Assistants will remain with your child until he/she gets picked up. The after school activities program aims to expose Kindergarten students to the following activities: Dance, Swimming, Art, Wall climbing, Gymnastics and Games.

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES START on JANUARY 16

Grade 1: On the first week of activities, students will be escorted by the homeroom teachers to the ES Canteen where they will meet their activity coaches. The activity Coaches will then take the students to their venues. At the end of their activities, students will be escorted to the canteen or the bus area. Please meet your child in the canteen at 3.15 if they are not taking the bus home. During the first week you can arrange with the coach where you will meet your child (the canteen; the venue; etc). Thank you.

Grade 2-4: Students may go directly to their activity venues or they may go to the canteen to meet their activity coaches. Please arrange with your child as to where are you going to pick him/her up (e.g. ES Canteen; library; drop-off point).

A movement sequence with a backward scale, straddle jump, forward roll to a long sit.

Students performed a movement sequence with a balance, roll and /or jump.

Dear Parents, Please be advised that the LAST WEEK of after school activities for first semester is on December 5-9. Students will have to register again if they want to participate in any after school activity for the second semester. Registration for the second semester starts on December 5. Students will receive  the AFAC Registration Forms today. Thank you. AFAC Office

  Each year in ES we celebrate being active with Sports Day. Our focus is on having fun being active, cooperation, and sportsmanship. This is a fantastic full day event. There will be no regular classes or specialist classes on the day. Classroom teachers will take their classes to a variety of challenging and fun activities throughout the day. All parents are invited to attend and support your child on the day. Students will also be given the opportunity to design a team logo and name to be printed onto their own ‘class t-shirt’ over the next month. These shirts have a huge visual impact and promote great team spirit (and it also makes it easier to keep track of each class!). Although it’s not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to purchase one in order to make this day even more memorable. You will receive more information about the specific activities and facilities closer to the event. Your child will bring home a t-shirt order form this week. Please return this to your classroom teacher before Dec 2nd.

Students demonstrating ball handling skills with a basketball

Students demonstrating ball handling skills and air volleying with a short and long handled badminton racket.

Ball handling skills with a long handled implement