Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/93284
Rice's expectations of the lower school athletes are that they work hard, do their best and win and lose gracefully, but also that they have fun. "At this point, we really want to concentrate on the fun part of sports," he said. "Later in life, kids become more competitive and it is more about winning. Now it's about making friends and enjoying being active." In Superstars, the role of upper school students as mentors and role models further enhances the experience. "It has a huge impact on the younger children. They look up to the older athletes and see in them what they can become," said Catherine Curry, Latin's director of Summer at Latin, who has organized the program since 2003. With the fifth grade's move to the middle school at the start of the 2011-12 school year, this kind of foundation-building has further expanded into the middle school athletics program with Roman 5s. Roman 5s introduces fifth graders to all competitive sports offered in the middle school but with a reduced practice and full focus on skills development, according to Middle School Athletics Director David VanderMeulen. "In fifth grade, students have the opportunity to be exposed to the sport that they might play in high school or even college," said VanderMeulen. "Our goal is to teach and refine the fundamental skills that will allow them to grow with the sport." Similar to the lower school experience, the middle school program strives for inclusiveness and the social and emotional aspects of sports participation. "By the time they move into the upper school, we want our athletes to have a foundation of basic skills," VanderMeulen said. "We want them to understand that participation ought to be fun, and we expect that they are able to demonstrate good sportsmanship and function as a part of a group with a common goal." Lessons that have clearly been learned, according to Curry, who frequently attends varsity games. "I know our kids will go out and shake hands with everybody on an opposing team whether they win or lose," Curry said. "I know they won't chastise other players, and I know that they will behave with grace on the court or field." l – Evelyne Girardet "It has a huge impact on the younger children. They look up to the older athletes and see in them what they can become." – Catherine Curry Latin School of Chicago 21