For many CBSD students, athletics and activities are more than something to do after the school day ends. They are opportunities to discover strengths, build relationships, take positive risks, and become part of something bigger than themselves.
Whether students are on a team, on stage, or working toward a shared goal, coaches and activity advisors help create spaces where students can grow in confidence and feel that they belong.
Janet Wood, CBSD’s Drama Director, sees that growth throughout the process of preparing a play or musical. Students have opportunities to succeed individually while also contributing to a group with a shared objective. They can explore beyond their comfort zones, develop new skills, and strengthen abilities they already have.
“In the process of preparing and performing a play or musical, there are opportunities for every level and type of skill or ability to shine,” Wood shared. “Everyone’s contribution is important to the success of the whole production.”
Those experiences help students develop resilience, cooperation, creative risk-taking, empathy, patience, and an understanding of how their actions affect others.
On the field and court, students build many of those same skills. Martin Moore, Assistant Football Coach and middle school teacher, said athletics teach hard work, determination, perseverance, humility, sacrifice, teamwork, and work ethic.
Students also learn how to work together, learn from mistakes, evaluate their own effort, and recognize that team success is shared success. Moore builds connection by getting to know students personally and talking with them about their goals—both now and in the future—and the steps it takes to reach them.
Girls Volleyball Coach Raymond McCarty describes sports as a metaphor for life.
“Lessons learned in sports will carry you through life,” McCarty said. “You are required to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
Through sports, students learn to work with people who may have different attitudes and strengths, listen to others’ perspectives, and be a good teammate. The lessons and relationships they gain can help open doors long after competitive sports end.
Girls Basketball Coach Tyrell Keyes also sees athletics as an important way for students to develop life skills, including leadership, teamwork, discipline, communication, accountability, and resilience.
Keyes works to create an environment where every student feels respected and valued. “Being consistent and supportive helps make a student feel wanted,” he said.
CBSD’s coaches and activity advisors do more than lead practices, games, rehearsals, and events. They encourage students, build confidence, create meaningful connections, and help young people see what they are capable of achieving.
Thank you to all of our coaches and activity advisors for the time, encouragement, and leadership you provide to CBSD students beyond the classroom.