Hoping to foster a sense of community between Chapel Hill High School and Morris Grove Elementary School, members of Chapel Hill High School’s Tiger Athletes in Action (TAA) club have gone to the local elementary school to greet students in the morning as they arrive at school.
TAA members, all of whom play a sport at the school, assist the “Kiss and Go Lane” by helping students exit cars and encouraging them as they enter the school.
Before each event, club members go into social studies teacher Drew Roeber’s room during lunch to make posters to hold up during the morning drop-off.
These colorful posters typically say things like “Happy Friyay” and “Have a Great Gecko Day,” acknowledging Morris Grove’s school mascot, the gecko.
In March of last year, TAA members stayed even longer, reading to classes to help celebrate the end of Morris Grove’s annual Read-A-Thon.
“Reading to the class was super enjoyable,” junior football player Wilkes Corcoran said. “When I was in elementary school, I would have loved to have had something like this.”
These visits aim to build a sense of community between the high school and elementary school. By interacting with younger students, the high schoolers serve as role models, promoting positivity and enthusiasm.
“I think what we’re doing is a really good thing, and it makes each kid’s day better,” junior baseball player Jamie Lee said.
“I think it is a very good event that benefits everyone, and, hopefully, it continues for a long time,” TAA co-president and senior Ashton Beale said. “We are also working on expanding this event and going to other elementary schools.”
Additionally, the club’s event allows some TAA members to return the elementary school they attended, as Morris Grove is one of the schools that feeds into Chapel Hill High School.
“It is especially rewarding to see former Morris Grove students come back to spend time at our school,” Morris Grove principal Amy Rickard said. “As a principal, I feel fortunate to have such positive role models visit our school and spend time with our students.”
The impact of these visits is clear–not just to the younger students but also to the TAA members.
“Seeing the kids’ faces light up when we cheer them on makes it all worth it,” sophomore field hockey and track and field athlete Nora Mullen said.
