GILROY
– After students got too rough with each other during their
recess and lost their privilege of playing sports, Luigi Aprea
parent Susan Bassi heard all the complaints.
GILROY – After students got too rough with each other during their recess and lost their privilege of playing sports, Luigi Aprea parent Susan Bassi heard all the complaints.
Children were unhappy with their entire school day because at recess they were only allowed to walk and talk. Teachers were unhappy in the classroom because their students’ pent up energy wasn’t getting expended on the playground.
So with the help of fellow parents, Bassi is putting together a program to appease both camps. It’s called the Luigi Aprea Wide World of Sports.
During the lunch hours Nov. 4–8, students grades one through six will take part in organized sports, from football to jacks and jump rope. To ensure they play by the rules and show good sportsmanship, parents will come on campus and act as coaches.
After a week of organized play under the guidance of parents, kids will take what they learned and play the sports and games on their own.
Tetherball and dodge ball will be on tap Jan. 13 to17. From March 17 to 21, parents will coach basketball. And on May 5 to 9, track and field will be the sport of choice.
Programs will run from 11:25 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. for grades one through three and from 12:15 to 1 p.m. for children in grades four through six.
“It’s a great way for parents to spend time with their kid on campus,” Bassi said.
Nonetheless, Luigi Aprea had to delay the start of the program this month for lack of parental response.
“It’s not like we’re asking for a huge commitment,” said Bassi. “We’ll take whatever time a parent can give.”
Bassi said the program still needs more parent volunteers, but will forge ahead in November even with the “skeleton crew” that’s in place now.
“We really want more parents because we don’t want to tax teachers and ask them to help out. Teachers need their break time and their planning time,” said Bassi.
“We also hope other schools catch on to this and make it work on their campuses,” Bassi said.
Bassi did not know of any other school that has implemented a similar program.
For more information on the Wide World of Sports program or to help out, contact Bassi at 842-1559.
