CREC 5th Graders Learn What it Means to be a CREC Student-Athlete

As the families of fifth graders in CREC’s nine elementary schools begin the process of choosing a middle school for next year, the opportunities offered by CREC’s new Athletic Program are creating excitement among students. The district is engaged in an aggressive initiative to provide sports programing to their more than 3,500 secondary school-aged students. The program was started only one year ago with middle school sports teams and has now been expanded to include high school as well. In order to prepare students, Jonathan Winer, CREC’s Athletic Director, and staff at CREC’s Magnet Schools are collaborating to provide informational opportunities for students.

Last month, students from the CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School visited with fifth graders at the University of Hartford Magnet School to promote middle school athletics. Fifteen seventh and eighth grade student-athletes from Two Rivers led the session, which began with introductions and general information about the program. The student leaders then facilitated a survey among the 60 or so fifth graders, which asked them about the sports they enjoy playing, their favorite teams, and what they like most about playing sports and exercising. The student facilitators then answered questions and shared their championship plaques with the fifth graders. CREC Two Rivers Middle School students were the middle school champions for girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, and girls’ cross country this fall. The options available to middle school students include soccer, cross country, basketball, indoor track, baseball, softball, track and field, and Ultimate Frisbee, with additional sports planned for the future.

The student-athletes from Two Rivers put special emphasis on the importance of academics first. The students shared what their average day looks like, including balancing their commitment to practice with schoolwork. “It’s really worth it,” shared one student. “I can’t wait for the day to be over so that I can go to practice, but when I get home from practice, it is time to be serious about school work again.”

This event was a pilot, but Winer hopes that this will become one of many collaborative sessions between schools. “Our middle school and high school athletes are our best ambassadors, because they are able to connect with the students and communicate what it is like to be a student-athlete at CREC,” shared Winer. “We hope all of these students will choose to participate at some level when they attend our middle schools.”

The event ended with students at University of Hartford Magnet School receiving a special invitation to attend the upcoming Two Rivers basketball games. Middle school games for all schools start the first week of January.

CREC is currently accepting applications for its 19 magnet schools. For more information about the CREC Athletic Program or any of CREC’s schools, visit www.crecschools.org.