The sky threatened rain on a recent afternoon while the Kempsville Middle School (KMS) girls soccer team warmed up for the day’s match. Across the field, their opponents were stretching their muscles…as well their comfort zone. That’s because the Kempsville girls’ team was getting ready to kick off against their teachers.
“We’re always looking for ways to build relationships between staff and students,” said school Principal Patti Jenkins. “When you can pair that up with an awareness event, the results are often magical.”
KMS students have been promoting pediatric cancer awareness through the month of September. The soccer match was a fundraiser for the awareness campaign. Spectators paid two dollars to watch the game as well as at a lemonade stand. Proceeds would go to pediatric cancer charities.
Although most were years removed from their glory days, the teachers actually found a rhythm and took the lead early in the match. The girls responded by putting the pressure on the teachers and mounting attack after attack until they tied the match before halftime.
Staff member and girls soccer coach Natalie Massey enjoyed playing against her team. “It was nice to see them implement the skills we’ve been working on…and they got to show their skills to their teachers! It was also a great way for them to see their teachers’ personalities.”
Co-captain Sarah Grace Campbell enjoy competing against her teachers. “We loved seeing the teachers playing together and being themselves out of the classroom,” Student Co-captain Tessa Harrison added, “They actually did better than we expected them to.”
Staff member – and event organizer – Sarah Johnson was thrilled with the turnout of students and other spectators.
“It was a lot of fun for a good cause. We were able to bring about awareness to pediatric cancer,” she said. “The staff and students commented on how much fun they had.”
When the final whistle was blown, the Kempsville Middle School team bested the teachers on the scoreboard. But the real winners were pediatric charities, which will receive nearly $400 in proceeds from a simple game of soccer.
“The soccer event was phenomenal,” Jenkins said. “There was great sportsmanship and effort, money raised for children with cancer, lots of smiles and laughter – and the rain even held out until the end!”