LITTLE CURRENT—Toronto Blue Jays fever has apparently hit Little Current Public School (LCPS).
The school is now a Jays Care affiliate school with sponsorship through the Blue Jays Foundation, and the interest in the program from students has been incredible, said Grade 8 teacher Jennifer Casement, who spearheaded the program.
“I was blown away by the interest of the students in the Blue Jays program,” stated Ms. Casement. “The kids are very excited about the program and talking about it, you will hear them asking ‘when is the next Blue Jays day?’ When we launched the program, I expected we might get 30 students taking part. We have over 60 students from Grades 4-6 participating and have approximately 12 Grade 8 students helping out in being captains and providing leadership and equipment managers.”
Ms. Casement said she noticed a few things last fall around the school community and an increased interest from the students in baseball and the Blue Jays , a need for new equipment and (most recently) a need for this type of programming in the winter months. Ms. Casement, with the help of a few other teachers, are delivering this eight week ‘fun-damental’ program filled with skills, drills and games to the Grade 4-6 students. “The program consists of four weeks of games, mirroring the spring training program our Toronto Blue Jays are currently attending in Florida, along with four weeks of a round-robin tournament (aligned with the Blue Jays’ opening day in April). There is a strong sense of community and fun at LCPS, along with a love of baseball.”
The Jays Care Affiliate program sponsorship is open to schools in remote areas and Indigenous schools. “Schools apply, as I did in the fall. We were accepted and received free equipment and an eight week program outline from the Blue Jays. The first part is to mirror the Blue Jays in the spring training focusing on ‘fun-damental’ skills, drills and games,” said Ms. Casement. “The whole program will provide a spring training before the kids get involved in baseball and softball in the summer and fall ball with the Island elementary school tournament.
“In April we will be holding an indoor round-robin tournament over four weeks,” said Ms. Casement. “I wanted to start the program for the students to have fun, get out and get moving and allow all of them to be able to be part of a team, work on some skills and drills. All while having fun. The socialization is very important for the students.”
“We received 15 new baseball gloves for the school,” said Ms. Casement, who has lived on the Island for the past three years. “We needed new equipment and for the kids to have more socialization and a fun activity, post COVID.”
