Success Story: Cyclone Games
Smith Middle School needed new scoreboards. Instead of simply turning to traditional fundraising efforts, the Smith Booster Club focused on how they could use this opportunity to not only raise funds for scoreboards, but to also support healthy families by promoting healthy eating and physical activity.
Breaking away from tradition required taking chances. According to Dr. Alice Ammerman, Smith Booster Club President, "take chances, make mistakes and get messy… that’s what has to happen for new events and new ways of thinking." It was this willingness to take chances and employ new ways of thinking that led to the creation of the Cyclone Games.
The Cyclone Games, which included scooter basketball, relay races and big ball volleyball, got students and teachers up, moving and having a great time outside of the classroom. Adding a bit of good-natured "trash talk," spurred even more for both teachers and students. Teachers could be heard taunting, "Just call me circumference 'cause I’m gonna be running circles around you" and "I got more elements in my game than a periodic table." Swift responses from the students included, "you think you’re all that and a cafeteria lunch. Your games’ as ancient as the ice age" and "You can’t even pass the EOG."
Eric Montross, star center for the ’93 Tarheel NCAA championship team and strong supporter of active, healthy children, provided color commentary, while cheerleading squads of both teachers and students lead whoops and hollers from Smith family spectators.
The games were followed by an Italian dinner of pizza, pasta, bread, salad and dessert, all home cooked by the Booster Club and supporters. Fundraising was accomplished by selling admission tickets to both the Games and dinner. Students needed parental permission and $3 to play. Game tickets were sold at $2 for student spectators and $5 for adults. Dinner tickets were $4 for students and $8 for adults.
“This is a great way to support the school and get us on track for implementing the new 30 minute requirement for physical activity. I'm excited to see an activity that supports good health and nutrition.”
Valerie Reinhardt,
Smith Principal
The Road to Success
The initial planning committee meeting was held over homemade doughnuts filled with homemade blackberry jam at the home of the Booster Club President, the first lesson to organizers that healthy food does not have to be boring. Meeting attendees were asked in jest to sign a form that they had consumed five fruits and vegetables that day. This informal gathering, involving everybody in the food preparation, provided a great environment for the planning committee to get to know each other and to begin organizing an event that included fun healthy food and physical activity.
Once the initial concept was developed, students, teachers and parents were integrally involved in the planning process, from requesting donations and planning the games, to organizing and preparing the dinner.
Having several teacher champions and Eric Montross supporting the Games was invaluable. One teacher champion in particular was instrumental in helping to recruit additional teachers to participate and write the trash talk. The baseball coach was also instrumental in helping with the advertising materials for the event and getting the baseball team to attend.
The Smith Booster club was able to raise money by charging admission to both the games and the dinner. Additionally, Blue Cross and Blue Shield donated five hundred dollars for the event and other businesses donated gift certificates to be given away at the event.
Teachers, parents and other supporters were excited by the response to the Games; they already want to know when they will be held again. Additionally, representatives from others schools have inquired about how they could replicate the Games in their respective schools.
By involving students, teachers and parents the Booster Club increased the impact of the games and showed that physical activity and healthy eating can be fun, no matter what your age, even if you are, as the students trash talk stated, "so ancient, you make the Earth look young."
Stepping Stones...
- When planning a first time event, keep a sense of humor and don't give up easily.
- Having key individuals as "Champions," supporting the event is essential.
Contact Information
Name, Title: Dr. Alice Ammerman
Agency: Booster Club, Smith Middle School
Address: (home) 505 Dogwood Dr.
City, State, Zip: Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: 919 933-9129
Email: alice_ammerman@unc.edu
