Physical Development: The Launch of Lion Athletics
As we continue unpacking our focus on the TRS Thriving Index, we are excited to announce a very exciting aspect of our BODY | Physical Development: the launch of our Lion Athletics Program. As a reminder, you can check out our previous post to learn more about our Thriving Index.
Athletics, for many, is considered the great equalizer in our society today. Whether it be on a track, field, court, or in practice, athletic competition provides common ground on which relationships, personal character, and mutual respect can be built. Sports helps us understand what it means to be a part of a team, where our efforts (or lack there of) have a direct impact on other more than just ourselves. Athletics can teach how to both win with humility and maintain dignity in defeat. It can help to push ourselves beyond our perceived mental and physical limits, not only for our personal well-being, but also for the good of the team.
For those reasons, and so many others, we are excited to announce that The Redeemer’s School has officially launched our Lion Athletics Program! On Monday, September 20th, the TRS family cheered on three girls and four boys in 6th and 7th grades, who competed in our very first Cross Country competition.
James, Kamron, Mr. Gardner, Jordan and Christian during the MRA Cross Country Invitational
“I am so proud of James for making it to the finish line because it is such a great feeling to finish.”
History and ELA Teacher for 6th & 7th Grades, Mr. Drew Gardner is coaching the Cross Country team. As a former Cross Country athlete at Belhaven University, Mr. Gardner looks forward to sharing his knowledge with our athletes. “The confidence, teamwork, and perseverance of our student athletes was a beautiful sight to see at our first meet. It was truly the goodness and graciousness of the Lord, watching them encourage and support one another. It serves as a reminder that what we do at TRS matters! It is an honor to coach these young men and women. They are a constant reminder of the Lord's faithfulness.”
“My favorite thing about the meet was how much it reflected everything TRS. There was no distinction for parents as they cheered and encouraged. They were all “our kids.” Even our students viewed themselves together in a way that stood out. I loved every second of it. You can tell from their teachers to their coaches that they are getting a consistent and wonderful message about living out the things that are taught every day at TRS.”
All smiles from our female athletes, Janae, Lila and Caitlin
We are so very grateful for Fleet Feet for coming out to campus to measure and outfitting our Cross Country Runners with brand new shoes! Having the right equipment is key to ensure our students have what they need to safely enjoy competing. We can’t thank Peter Davis & our friends at Fleet Feet enough for coming out to campus to spend time with our runners and providing their footwear!
With the formation of our Athletics Program, we will strive to develop our students in three key areas: Tenacity, Resilience and Strength. We believe that when our students begin to exhibit these attributes, they will be better equipped to make a tangible impact far beyond the field of competition. We will challenge students to prioritize effort and accountability over results. We will encourage students to keep moving forward in the midst of difficulty and setbacks, in practice and competition.
The overall health and wellness of our students will remain at the forefront as we seek to teach them the importance of taking ownership of their mental and physical health.
Jordan and Christian giving it their all as they race to the finish line
SPRING SPORTS
In addition to Cross Country in the Fall, our Middle School students will also have the opportunity to compete against other Mid-South Association of Independent Schools (MSAIS) in Golf & Tennis in the Spring semester. Mr. Glenn Robinson, our 4th and 5th grade Science and Math teacher, is excited to bring his love for and experience in golf to our middle school students. We are also researching to provide a way for our younger students to participate by offering a Tennis Club.
A great deal of time, prayer, and research has gone into making TRS Athletics a reality, with more still to be done. Would you be willing to pray that the ins and outs of developing this program continue to go smoothly? Would you be praying that our student athletes remain healthy as they train? Would you consider giving to this effort as we seek to provide students with uniforms, transportation and incur registration fees for entering races and tournaments?
