Stellar Elementary uses basketball to engage students

Stellar Elementary had a 4th and 5th grade coed basketball league that ran November through January. Almost 1/5 of the 4th and 5th grade students participated in the league. The students competed in 8 games that included the playoffs and a championship game. This was the first time many of the students have ever been on a sports team. It was a pleasure to watch them gain the skills of teamwork, sportsmanship, learning how to handle winning and losing, along with the skills of being a basketball player.

The parents were also invited to attend the games after school. It was wonderful to have a packed gym for every game to cheer on the Stellar Stars and their teams. For the championship game, chairs had to be brought in and set around the entire gym to accommodate the crowd of parents, friends, brothers, sisters, and grandparents. The Nuggets and Warriors didn't let the fans down as the game came down to the final minute with the Warriors winning 18-16.

Mr. Gunnar Johnson, who set up and ran the league really hopes all the excitement of the Stellar Basketball League encourages the students and their parents to join sports and activities outside of school because of the positive impact in will have in their lives.

Special thanks to the Stellar Elementary community for submitting this Five Star Story.

This story exemplifies our ELEVATE Focus Area: Outside-the-Classroom Learning. Sharing stories about how the district offers students multiple learning opportunities outside the traditional classroom providing various pathways to success.