OHS Football Players Serve As Role Models And Mentors At Swenson
By Doug Carder
“I wore my red shirt today because it’s football day,” kindergartener Caden West told senior football player Joe Van Vlack. “I watch you guys play.”
Van Vlack and about a dozen other Osawatomie football players are participating in a mentoring program at Swenson Early Childhood Education Center.
Andrea Manes, Swenson principal, said the players make good role models for her students.
“The boys do things like help the kids with their letters, play with them at recess and sit with them at lunch,” Manes said. “They serve as good role models. They can teach students about having a good work ethic and about things like manners at the table.”
Manes said the mentoring program – a partnership between the high school team and Swenson – is new to her school.
“The Swenson program came out of summer leadership training,” football coach Troy Bomgardner said. “We want these guys to have an impact on the next generation of Trojans.”
Bomgardner said the team hopes to expand the program and get more guys involved next year. Players must sign a contract that they will be drug and alcohol free.
“They need to realize they have a responsibility to the community,” Bomgardner said, “that they are more than just football players. And that it’s a privilege to step on this field every Friday night.”
Van Vlack was joined by several of his teammates Friday at Swenson.
“I’m getting to know a lot of the kids. I think it’s a good program,” football player Drew Needham said. He and teammate Brant Johnson were helping kindergarteners play games at recess.
“I knew a couple of the kids already,” Johnson said as he swung one little girl in the air. “I think the kids were a little intimidated at first, looking at these big guys sitting beside them at the lunch table. But once they get to know you, they really latch on to you. I like the program.”
Inside the classroom, Van Vlack was helping Cassie Cornielson make the letter D.
“I enjoy helping the kids. I think they like seeing us in the classroom,” Van Vlack said.
Teacher Christina Durham said the program is going well so far.
“When I tell the students the football players are coming today, they always want to know how soon are they going to get here. They can’t wait,” Durham said. “And, it’s always nice to have an extra helper in the classroom.”
Short URL: http://osawatominews.com/?p=325
Posted by Doug
on Sep 15 2010. Filed under News and Updates.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry