Medicine Hat elementary students swing into action at Blue Jays Affiliate School Program

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Candace Rapuano, family school liaison worker at Elm Street School and lead organizer for the event, said the program is a great opportunity for kids who might not otherwise get to play baseball outside school.

The Jays Affiliate School Program runs at schools across Canada and includes an eight-week baseball program designed to introduce students to the sport.

Rapuano said Elm Street students had been looking forward to the event since participating last year.

“The kids who did this last year, as soon as we mentioned the baseball club was starting again, they’re excited and asking, ‘Do we get to do the event again in Elm Street?'” Rapuano said.

Participating schools included Elm Street, Connaught, George Davison, River Heights, Southview and Vincent Massey.

Rapuano said Elm Street received a grant through the affiliate school program this year, helping cover transportation, food and event supplies.

The funding also allowed organizers to provide shade tents, yard games, freezies and small giveaway bags that included sunglasses, foam fingers and Booster Juice coupons.

Students played two 45-minute games each throughout the day on two baseball diamonds, while a third field hosted a longest-hit competition with prizes donated by local businesses.

Rapuano said support from families, teachers, Moose Monarchs players and community sponsors helped create a festival atmosphere around the event.

“It’s awesome, it’s so good to see the turnout here,” Rapuano said.

The program also provides participating students with team shirts and hats, something Rapuano said helps build excitement and school community throughout the year.

“Lots of the kids will wear their Blue Jays t-shirts or hats to school, so they know, ‘Oh, that’s [those] kids in the baseball team, too, or they were part of it last year,’ so it builds that community within the school, which I think is really cool,” Rapuano said.

Grade 5 Elm Street student Taneisha Tillery said the event helped students encourage one another while learning new baseball skills and taught them how to compete while working together as a team.

“It feels kind of good because we learn to be competitive in a good way and to work together to make new strategies,” Tillery said.

Tillery said the outdoor event was a welcome break near the end of the school year.

“It’s been really fun, just not staying in the same room for six hours,” Tillery said.

“It feels kind of good to just come out play around meet new people and have fun.”

by Jett Schwaier

Medicine Hat elementary students swing into action at Blue Jays Affiliate School Program

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