Biscuits & Gravy

I'm still here but I've been dreaming of a white Christmas...well, really at this moment, I'm dreaming of biscuits and gravy.  Why you ask?  This Saturday, December 1, from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Martinsville Fire Hall there will be a Sausage Biscuits & Gravy breakfast for the Martinsville Elementary 5th and 6th grade basketball program.  It is free-will donation.

Several years ago the school-affiliated 5th and 6th grade basketball program was cut due to lack of interest, I believe.  The numbers just weren't there to justify it.  Those in 5th and 6th grade wanting to play basketball were bumped up to the 7th and 8th grade team because they were needed to fill out those two teams. 

We now have a pretty full elementary enrollment and the interest is again building (thank goodness).  This is only my hunch, but I am guessing the kids that are now playing varsity basketball didn't have the benefit of an elementary program.  At times I wonder if it would've made a difference.  It is important to offer this program in the elementary so the kids can learn the fundamentals and skills early on and then continue to build on them.

It is no secret that I'm a sports-fan.  I don't think sports should be the main focus at our schools, but I think they are important for many reasons:  exercise, teamwork, school spirit & pride, discipline, keeping grades up, responsibility and keeping kids occupied.  Being the junior high cheer sponsor this year has taught me a lot about being the mom of an athlete, and hopefully it will make me a better parent of one.  The process has opened my eyes to the importance of teaching kids to make decisions on their own, teaching kids to take the initiative and be a leader instead of waiting for mom or dad to tell them what to do, and also, teaching kids to be accountable for the decisions and choices they make involving their extra-curricular activities and any consequences that come along with those choices.  We need extra-curricular programs at our schools, but they take funding.

So stepping off my soapbox for a moment, I invite you to come out and support this endeavor to get the basketball program at the elementary up and running.  The program at the grade school will be co-ed and they will start practice next week.  They are hoping to raise enough money to purchase uniforms.  And who doesn't like a plate of biscuits and gravy?